In-Home Dementia Care in DeFuniak Springs, FL

Local figures

Dementia Care in DeFuniak Springs, FL: the local picture

143

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

1,057

residents 65 or older (16% of DeFuniak Springs)

52%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Walton County)

3

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

DeFuniak Springs has about 143 residents aged 85 or older among 1,057 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.

52% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Walton County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older DeFuniak Springs 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.

DeFuniak Springs compared with Walton County and Florida

Census figure	DeFuniak Springs	Walton County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	1.4%	2.6%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	52%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	23%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	9.0%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.1%	8.5%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,250	$67,531	—

Older residents in towns around DeFuniak Springs

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Freeport, FL	14 mi	820	112
Niceville, FL	25 mi	3,016	354
Miramar Beach, FL	26 mi	3,412	393
Bonifay, FL	26 mi	958	140
Geneva, AL	27 mi	1,109	70
Crestview, FL	28 mi	3,222	450

Nursing homes near DeFuniak Springs

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Chautauqua Springs Health Center	Defuniak Springs, FL	0.6 mi	5 of 5	180	(850) 892-2176
Florala Health And Rehabilitation LLC	Florala, AL	23 mi	3 of 5	85	(334) 858-8585
Manor At Blue Water Bay, The	Niceville, FL	23 mi	5 of 5	120	(850) 897-5592

Hospices serving DeFuniak Springs

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	44 mi	(850) 769-0055
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	65 mi	(704) 662-1761
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	69 mi	(850) 378-5618
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	114 mi	(850) 575-4998

Straight-line miles from the center of DeFuniak Springs. 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 DeFuniak Springs

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,021 monthly median income of DeFuniak Springs households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 DeFuniak Springs: common questions

What nursing homes are near DeFuniak Springs?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Chautauqua Springs Health Center in Defuniak Springs (0.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Florala Health And Rehabilitation LLC in Florala (23 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Manor At Blue Water Bay, The in Niceville (23 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in DeFuniak Springs?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,021 monthly median income of DeFuniak Springs households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 DeFuniak Springs

More senior care near DeFuniak Springs

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in DeFuniak Springs

More for DeFuniak Springs 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 DeFuniak Springs, FL