Dementia Care in Early, TX: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Early, TX: the local picture

105

residents 85 or older (3.3% of all residents)

505

residents 65 or older (16% of Early)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (48% in Brown County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Early has about 105 residents aged 85 or older among 505 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.

38% of residents 65 and older report a disability (48% in Brown County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

17% of older Early 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.

Early compared with Brown County and Texas

Census figure	Early	Brown County	Texas
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	3.1%	1.4%
Residents 65 or older	16%	21%	13%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	48%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	26%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.8%	13%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	16%	35%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$67,794	$47,265	—

Older residents in towns around Early

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Brownwood, TX	3.1 mi	3,216	507
Comanche, TX	22 mi	800	87
Coleman, TX	29 mi	1,014	50
De Leon, TX	35 mi	455	50
San Saba, TX	40 mi	525	47
Dublin, TX	42 mi	510	27

Nursing homes near Early

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Care Nursing & Rehabilitation	Brownwood, TX	1.1 mi	3 of 5	97	(325) 646-5521
Lake Hills Healthcare Center	Brownwood, TX	4.6 mi	3 of 5	94	(325) 646-6529
Songbird Lodge	Brownwood, TX	5.3 mi	2 of 5	121	(325) 646-4750
Pecan Bayou Nursing And Rehabilitation	Brownwood, TX	5.4 mi	5 of 5	90	(325) 643-9801
Brownwood Nursing & Rehabilitation	Brownwood, TX	5.6 mi	3 of 5	128	(325) 643-9555
Oak Ridge Manor	Brownwood, TX	5.7 mi	3 of 5	114	(325) 643-2746

Hospices serving Early

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Brownwood, TX	4.0 mi	(325) 643-5718
Community Care Services Hospice	Dublin, TX	42 mi	(254) 445-4675
Kinder Hearts Hospice	Abilene, TX	70 mi	(325) 672-6135
Alpha Omega Hospice	Weatherford, TX	97 mi	(817) 238-0770

Straight-line miles from the center of Early. 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 Early

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $5,650 monthly median income of Early households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver.

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 Early: common questions

What nursing homes are near Early?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Care Nursing & Rehabilitation in Brownwood (1.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Lake Hills Healthcare Center in Brownwood (4.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Songbird Lodge in Brownwood (5.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Early?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $5,650 monthly median income of Early households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Early

More senior care near Early

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Early

More for Early 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 Early, TX