Dementia Care in Exeter, NH: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Exeter, NH: the local picture

414

residents 85 or older (4.2% of all residents)

2,187

residents 65 or older (22% of Exeter)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Rockingham County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Exeter has about 414 residents aged 85 or older among 2,187 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.

29% of residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Rockingham County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

45% of older Exeter 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.

Exeter compared with Rockingham County and New Hampshire

Census figure	Exeter	Rockingham County	New Hampshire
Residents 85 or older	4.2%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	20%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	24%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.2%	6.0%	7.7%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.8%	6.5%	7.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,365	$75,258	—

Older residents in towns around Exeter

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hampton, NH	6.5 mi	2,720	289
Newmarket, NH	6.8 mi	756	59
Hampton Beach, NH	8.0 mi	879	73
Amesbury, MA	8.7 mi	3,170	214
Epping, NH	8.7 mi	762	50
Portsmouth, NH	10 mi	4,946	592

Nursing homes near Exeter

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Exeter Center	Exeter, NH	1.6 mi	3 of 5	81	(603) 778-0531
Riverwoods At Exeter	Exeter, NH	2.1 mi	5 of 5	8	(603) 772-4700
Rockingham County Nursing Home	Brentwood, NH	5.9 mi	4 of 5	226	(603) 679-5335
Oceanside Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation	Hampton, NH	6.1 mi	1 of 5	117	(603) 926-4551
Mill Town Health And Rehabilitation	Amesbury, MA	8.3 mi	1 of 5	130	(978) 388-4682
Webster At Rye	Rye, NH	8.4 mi	4 of 5	61	(603) 964-8144

Hospices serving Exeter

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home	Exeter, NH	0.3 mi	(603) 772-2981
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Portsmouth, NH	9.7 mi	(603) 433-2480
Harborside Hospice LLC	Plaistow, NH	12 mi	(800) 331-1044
Cornerstone Vna	Rochester, NH	23 mi	(603) 332-1133

Straight-line miles from the center of Exeter. 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 Exeter

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,864 monthly median income of Exeter households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Exeter: common questions

What nursing homes are near Exeter?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Exeter Center in Exeter (1.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Riverwoods At Exeter in Exeter (2.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Rockingham County Nursing Home in Brentwood (5.9 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Exeter?

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,864 monthly median income of Exeter households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Exeter

More senior care near Exeter

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Exeter

More for Exeter 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 Exeter, NH