Dementia Care in Charleston, WV: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Charleston, WV: the local picture

1,207

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

10,007

residents 65 or older (21% of Charleston)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Kanawha County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Charleston has about 1,207 residents aged 85 or older among 10,007 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.

34% of residents 65 and older report a disability (37% in Kanawha County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

34% of older Charleston 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.

Charleston compared with Kanawha County and West Virginia

Census figure	Charleston	Kanawha County	West Virginia
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	21%	22%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	37%	39%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.3%	2.3%	2.5%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,908	$51,172	—

Older residents in towns around Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
South Charleston, WV	4.3 mi	2,876	366
Dunbar, WV	5.8 mi	1,618	383
Pinch, WV	9.3 mi	1,124	225
Cross Lanes, WV	9.6 mi	2,226	88
St. Albans, WV	10 mi	2,646	412
Nitro, WV	10 mi	1,330	84

Nursing homes near Charleston

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Thomas Hospitals Skilled Nursing Unit	Charleston, WV	0.3 mi	5 of 5	29	(304) 347-6500
Complete Care At Oak Ridge LLC	Charleston, WV	1.3 mi	3 of 5	74	(304) 347-4372
Arthur B Hodges Center, The	Charleston, WV	1.9 mi	4 of 5	20	(304) 720-2740
Charleston Healthcare Center	Charleston, WV	2.6 mi	3 of 5	150	(304) 925-4771
Meadowbrook Acres	Charleston, WV	4.2 mi	3 of 5	60	(304) 344-4268
Dunbar Center	Dunbar, WV	4.8 mi	2 of 5	120	(304) 744-4761

Hospices serving Charleston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicecare, Inc	Charleston, WV	0.1 mi	(304) 768-8523
Dignity Hospice Of Southern West Virginia, Inc	Chapmanville, WV	33 mi	(304) 855-4764
Hospice Of Huntington	Huntington, WV	44 mi	(304) 529-4217

Straight-line miles from the center of Charleston. 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 Charleston

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,326 monthly median income of Charleston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options.

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 Charleston: common questions

What nursing homes are near Charleston?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Thomas Hospitals Skilled Nursing Unit in Charleston (0.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Complete Care At Oak Ridge LLC in Charleston (1.3 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Arthur B Hodges Center, The in Charleston (1.9 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Charleston?

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,326 monthly median income of Charleston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 Charleston

More senior care near Charleston

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Charleston

More for Charleston 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 Charleston, WV