Dementia Care in Emerald Isle, NC: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Emerald Isle, NC: the local picture

68

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

1,449

residents 65 or older (37% of Emerald Isle)

23%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Carteret County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Emerald Isle has about 68 residents aged 85 or older among 1,449 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.

23% of residents 65 and older report a disability (34% in Carteret County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

17% of older Emerald Isle 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.

Emerald Isle compared with Carteret County and North Carolina

Census figure	Emerald Isle	Carteret County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.6%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	37%	27%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	28%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.5%	7.9%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.2%	5.4%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$85,444	$61,173	—

Older residents in towns around Emerald Isle

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Cape Carteret, NC	2.6 mi	722	91
Swansboro, NC	6.2 mi	895	27
Newport, NC	11 mi	909	115
Piney Green, NC	17 mi	1,645	193
Morehead City, NC	17 mi	2,223	333
Havelock, NC	18 mi	1,069	105

Nursing homes near Emerald Isle

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Croatan Ridge Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Newport, NC	13 mi	4 of 5	64	(252) 223-2560
Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation And Health Care Cent	Morehead City, NC	16 mi	5 of 5	92	(252) 726-0031
Embassy At Morehead City	Morehead City, NC	16 mi	not rated	42	(252) 515-7700
Cherry Point Bay Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Havelock, NC	17 mi	2 of 5	70	(252) 444-4631
Premier Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Jacksonville, NC	21 mi	3 of 5	239	(910) 353-7222
Carolina Rivers Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Jacksonville, NC	24 mi	4 of 5	120	(910) 455-3610

Hospices serving Emerald Isle

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Carteret County	Morehead City, NC	16 mi	(252) 808-6085
Community Hospice LLC	New Bern, NC	30 mi	(252) 672-8301
Liberty Home Care And Hospice	Wilmington, NC	57 mi	(910) 251-8111
3HC	Goldsboro, NC	70 mi	(919) 735-5887

Straight-line miles from the center of Emerald Isle. 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 Emerald Isle

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $7,120 monthly median income of Emerald Isle households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 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 Emerald Isle: common questions

What nursing homes are near Emerald Isle?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Croatan Ridge Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Newport (13 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation And Health Care Cent in Morehead City (16 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Embassy At Morehead City in Morehead City (16 mi, not rated overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Emerald Isle?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $7,120 monthly median income of Emerald Isle households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Emerald Isle

More senior care near Emerald Isle

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Emerald Isle

More for Emerald Isle 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 Emerald Isle, NC