Dementia Care in Derby, CT: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Derby, CT: the local picture

262

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

2,632

residents 65 or older (21% of Derby)

18%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Derby has about 262 residents aged 85 or older among 2,632 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.

18% of residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

41% of older Derby 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.

Derby compared with Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut

Census figure	Derby	Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	Connecticut
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.5%	2.4%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	18%	31%	29%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	19%	9.8%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	23%	23%	23%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,786	$60,762	—

Older residents in towns around Derby

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Ansonia, CT	1.4 mi	3,437	382
Shelton, CT	3.3 mi	8,962	1,396
Orange, CT	4.1 mi	3,293	411
Oronoque, CT	4.9 mi	2,213	424
East Village, CT	5.9 mi	425	20
West Haven, CT	7.0 mi	8,839	882

Nursing homes near Derby

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hewitt Health & Rehabilitation Center, Inc	Shelton, CT	1.1 mi	2 of 5	206	(203) 924-4671
Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes	Shelton, CT	1.8 mi	2 of 5	106	(203) 924-2635
Gardner Heights Health Care Center, Inc	Shelton, CT	2.8 mi	2 of 5	124	(203) 929-1481
Masonicare At Bishop Wicke Health & Rehabilitation	Shelton, CT	3.1 mi	3 of 5	120	(203) 929-5321
Autumn Lake Healthcare At The Willows	Woodbridge, CT	5.3 mi	4 of 5	90	(203) 387-0076
Shady Knoll Center For Health & Rehabilitation	Seymour, CT	5.4 mi	2 of 5	128	(203) 881-2555

Hospices serving Derby

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassus - Greater Connecticut	Milford, CT	6.4 mi	(203) 301-0489
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic	Middlebury, CT	15 mi	(203) 437-3111
Accentcare Hospice & Palliative Care Of Conecticut	Middlebury, CT	15 mi	(203) 490-1000
Connecticut Hospice Inc, The	Branford, CT	15 mi	(203) 315-7586

Straight-line miles from the center of Derby. 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 Derby

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,066 monthly median income of Derby households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 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 Derby: common questions

What nursing homes are near Derby?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Hewitt Health & Rehabilitation Center, Inc in Shelton (1.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Apple Rehab Shelton Lakes in Shelton (1.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Gardner Heights Health Care Center, Inc in Shelton (2.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Derby?

At the Connecticut median aide wage of $18.75 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,625 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,066 monthly median income of Derby households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Connecticut's minimum wage is $16.94 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 Derby

More senior care near Derby

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Derby

More for Derby 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 Derby, CT