Dementia Care in Big Stone Gap, VA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Big Stone Gap, VA: the local picture

80

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

924

residents 65 or older (18% of Big Stone Gap)

61%

of residents 65+ report a disability (54% in Wise County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Big Stone Gap has about 80 residents aged 85 or older among 924 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

61% of residents 65 and older report a disability (54% in Wise County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

30% of older Big Stone Gap residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Big Stone Gap compared with Wise County and Virginia

Census figure	Big Stone Gap	Wise County	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	54%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	29%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	16%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.5%	1.9%	17%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,795	$35,825	—

Older residents in towns around Big Stone Gap

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Norton, VA	9.6 mi	761	135
Wise, VA	13 mi	514	0
Mount Carmel, TN	21 mi	1,272	107
Church Hill, TN	24 mi	1,706	173
Bloomingdale, TN	24 mi	2,040	138
Kingsport, TN	27 mi	13,132	1,347

Nursing homes near Big Stone Gap

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heritage Hall Big Stone Gap	Big Stone Gap, VA	1.4 mi	4 of 5	180	(276) 523-3000
Norton Community Hospital SNF Unit	Norton, VA	8.6 mi	5 of 5	44	(276) 679-9100
Ridgecrest Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation	Duffield, VA	10 mi	4 of 5	120	(276) 431-2841
Heritage Hall Wise	Wise, VA	14 mi	4 of 5	97	(276) 328-2721
Tri Cities Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Cumberland, KY	16 mi	1 of 5	85	(606) 589-5421
Lee Health And Rehab Center	Pennington Gap, VA	17 mi	5 of 5	110	(276) 546-4566

Hospices serving Big Stone Gap

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice & Palliative Care Of Virginia	Norton, VA	9.8 mi	(276) 679-7212
Caris Healthcare, LP (Abingdon)	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	(276) 494-0465
Ballad Health Hospice	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	(276) 619-4500
Medical Services Of America Home Health & Hospice	Richlands, VA	56 mi	(276) 964-4202

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Stone Gap. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in Big Stone Gap

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in Big Stone Gap: common questions

What nursing homes are near Big Stone Gap?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Heritage Hall Big Stone Gap in Big Stone Gap (1.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Norton Community Hospital SNF Unit in Norton (8.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Ridgecrest Manor Nursing & Rehabilitation in Duffield (10 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Big Stone Gap?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Big Stone Gap

More senior care near Big Stone Gap

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Big Stone Gap

More for Big Stone Gap families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Big Stone Gap, VA