Dementia Care in Fitzgerald, GA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Fitzgerald, GA: the local picture

116

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

1,526

residents 65 or older (17% of Fitzgerald)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Ben Hill County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Fitzgerald has about 116 residents aged 85 or older among 1,526 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.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Ben Hill County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older Fitzgerald 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.

Fitzgerald compared with Ben Hill County and Georgia

Census figure	Fitzgerald	Ben Hill County	Georgia
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.5%	1.4%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	32%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	19%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.0%	7.1%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,519	$33,208	—

Older residents in towns around Fitzgerald

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Ocilla, GA	7.9 mi	499	77
Abbeville, GA	20 mi	349	46
Tifton, GA	23 mi	2,845	223
Ashburn, GA	24 mi	955	33
Douglas, GA	27 mi	1,671	133
McRae-Helena, GA	32 mi	1,115	81

Nursing homes near Fitzgerald

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald	Fitzgerald, GA	1.1 mi	4 of 5	78	(229) 423-4361
Harmony Health And Rehabilitation	Fitzgerald, GA	1.2 mi	1 of 5	167	(229) 423-5621
Palemon Gaskins Mem Nsg Home	Ocilla, GA	7.6 mi	2 of 5	30	(229) 468-3890
Pruitthealth - Ocilla	Ocilla, GA	7.9 mi	3 of 5	83	(229) 468-9431
Abbeville Crossing Of Journey LLC	Abbeville, GA	20 mi	1 of 5	101	(229) 635-4085
Rehabilitation Center Of South Georgia	Tifton, GA	22 mi	2 of 5	178	(229) 382-7342

Hospices serving Fitzgerald

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Eternal Faith Hospice And Palliative Care	Chula, GA	21 mi	(229) 520-3052
Hospice Of Tift Area	Tifton, GA	23 mi	(229) 353-6330
Pruitthealth Hospice-Cordele	Cordele, GA	35 mi	(229) 271-0300
Empyrean Hospice Of Georgia, LLC-(Adel)	Adel, GA	42 mi	(229) 500-6250

Straight-line miles from the center of Fitzgerald. 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 Fitzgerald

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Fitzgerald: common questions

What nursing homes are near Fitzgerald?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald in Fitzgerald (1.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Harmony Health And Rehabilitation in Fitzgerald (1.2 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Palemon Gaskins Mem Nsg Home in Ocilla (7.6 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Fitzgerald?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Fitzgerald

More senior care near Fitzgerald

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fitzgerald

More for Fitzgerald 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 Fitzgerald, GA