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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Dunbar, WV: the local picture

383

residents 85 or older (5.3% of all residents)

1,618

residents 65 or older (22% of Dunbar)

49%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Dunbar has about 383 residents aged 85 or older among 1,618 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.

49% 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.

52% of older Dunbar 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.

Dunbar compared with Kanawha County and West Virginia

Census figure	Dunbar	Kanawha County	West Virginia
Residents 85 or older	5.3%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	37%	39%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	52%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	11%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.2%	2.3%	2.5%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,600	$51,172	—

Older residents in towns around Dunbar

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
South Charleston, WV	2.4 mi	2,876	366
St. Albans, WV	4.5 mi	2,646	412
Nitro, WV	4.9 mi	1,330	84
Cross Lanes, WV	4.9 mi	2,226	88
Charleston, WV	5.8 mi	10,007	1,207
Sissonville, WV	11 mi	856	96

Nursing homes near Dunbar

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Dunbar Center	Dunbar, WV	1.1 mi	2 of 5	120	(304) 744-4761
Riverside Valley Of Journey	Saint Albans, WV	1.8 mi	3 of 5	90	(304) 768-0002
Valley Center	South Charleston, WV	1.8 mi	2 of 5	130	(304) 768-4400
Arthur B Hodges Center, The	Charleston, WV	5.4 mi	4 of 5	20	(304) 720-2740
Thomas Hospitals Skilled Nursing Unit	Charleston, WV	5.7 mi	5 of 5	29	(304) 347-6500
Complete Care At Oak Ridge LLC	Charleston, WV	6.8 mi	3 of 5	74	(304) 347-4372

Hospices serving Dunbar

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicecare, Inc	Charleston, WV	5.8 mi	(304) 768-8523

Straight-line miles from the center of Dunbar. 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 Dunbar

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 44% of the $2,633 monthly median income of Dunbar 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 Dunbar: common questions

What nursing homes are near Dunbar?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Dunbar Center in Dunbar (1.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Riverside Valley Of Journey in Saint Albans (1.8 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Valley Center in South Charleston (1.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Dunbar?

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 44% of the $2,633 monthly median income of Dunbar 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 Dunbar

More senior care near Dunbar

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dunbar

More for Dunbar 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 Dunbar, WV