Dementia Care in Columbia, MS: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Columbia, MS: the local picture

229

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

1,375

residents 65 or older (21% of Columbia)

59%

of residents 65+ report a disability (49% in Marion County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Columbia has about 229 residents aged 85 or older among 1,375 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.

59% of residents 65 and older report a disability (49% in Marion County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Columbia 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.

Columbia compared with Marion County and Mississippi

Census figure	Columbia	Marion County	Mississippi
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	59%	49%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	11%	15%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.0%	2.0%	4.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,930	$41,138	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
West Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	709	66
Hattiesburg, MS	30 mi	6,399	648
Bogalusa, LA	33 mi	2,047	177
Poplarville, MS	34 mi	332	21
Franklinton, LA	34 mi	592	48
Petal, MS	35 mi	1,713	219

Nursing homes near Columbia

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Myrtles Nursing Center, LLC	Columbia, MS	0.0 mi	2 of 5	98	(601) 731-1745
The Grove	Columbia, MS	0.8 mi	2 of 5	86	(601) 736-4747
Columbia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Columbia, MS	1.7 mi	3 of 5	119	(601) 736-9557
Billdora Senior Care	Tylertown, MS	22 mi	3 of 5	60	(601) 876-2173
Diversicare Of Tylertown	Tylertown, MS	22 mi	5 of 5	60	(601) 876-2107
Jefferson Davis Community Hospital Ecf	Prentiss, MS	24 mi	5 of 5	55	(601) 792-1172

Hospices serving Columbia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Luke Home Health And Hospice	Monticello, MS	26 mi	(601) 587-7686
Enhabit Hospice	Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	(601) 264-8691
St Joseph Hospice Of Southern Mississippi, LLC	Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	(601) 261-2515
Gentiva	Hattiesburg, MS	26 mi	(228) 385-7845

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbia. 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 Columbia

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $2,744 monthly median income of Columbia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

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 Columbia: common questions

What nursing homes are near Columbia?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Myrtles Nursing Center, LLC in Columbia (0.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall); The Grove in Columbia (0.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Columbia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Columbia (1.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Columbia?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $2,744 monthly median income of Columbia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Columbia

More senior care near Columbia

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Columbia

More for Columbia 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 Columbia, MS