Dementia Care in Cottondale, AL: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Cottondale, AL: the local picture

41

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

424

residents 65 or older (16% of Cottondale)

58%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Tuscaloosa County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Cottondale has about 41 residents aged 85 or older among 424 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.

58% of residents 65 and older report a disability (36% in Tuscaloosa County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

19% of older Cottondale 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.

Cottondale compared with Tuscaloosa County and Alabama

Census figure	Cottondale	Tuscaloosa County	Alabama
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.3%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	58%	36%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.3%	12%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.0%	6.6%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,946	$49,718	—

Older residents in towns around Cottondale

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Holt, AL	3.0 mi	491	42
Tuscaloosa, AL	5.1 mi	14,431	1,214
Coaling, AL	6.3 mi	198	11
Brookwood, AL	7.8 mi	233	21
Northport, AL	9.3 mi	4,739	709
Moundville, AL	17 mi	262	31

Nursing homes near Cottondale

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heritage Health Care & Rehab Inc	Tuscaloosa, AL	6.5 mi	3 of 5	216	(205) 759-5179
Hunter Creek Health And Rehabilitation, LLC	Northport, AL	7.1 mi	3 of 5	78	(205) 339-5900
Aspire Physical Recovery Center Of West Alabama	Northport, AL	7.1 mi	4 of 5	75	(205) 330-8412
Forest Manor Health And Rehab	Northport, AL	7.8 mi	3 of 5	182	(205) 339-5400
Glen Haven Health And Rehabilitation, LLC	Northport, AL	7.8 mi	1 of 5	200	(205) 339-5700
Park Manor Health And Rehabilitation, LLC	Northport, AL	7.9 mi	3 of 5	152	(205) 339-5300

Hospices serving Cottondale

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of West Alabama	Tuscaloosa, AL	1.8 mi	(205) 345-0067
Alabama Hospice Care Of Tuscaloosa	Northport, AL	8.4 mi	(205) 633-3705
Southerncare New Beacon - Jasper	Northport, AL	9.2 mi	(205) 387-9339
Enhabit Hospice Birmingham	Hoover, AL	38 mi	(205) 824-8681

Straight-line miles from the center of Cottondale. 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 Cottondale

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,746 monthly median income of Cottondale households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Cottondale: common questions

What nursing homes are near Cottondale?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Heritage Health Care & Rehab Inc in Tuscaloosa (6.5 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Hunter Creek Health And Rehabilitation, LLC in Northport (7.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Aspire Physical Recovery Center Of West Alabama in Northport (7.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Cottondale?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $3,746 monthly median income of Cottondale households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Cottondale

More senior care near Cottondale

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cottondale

More for Cottondale 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 Cottondale, AL