Dementia Care in Forest, VA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Forest, VA: the local picture

410

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

2,764

residents 65 or older (21% of Forest)

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Bedford County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Forest has about 410 residents aged 85 or older among 2,764 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.

21% of residents 65 and older report a disability (29% in Bedford County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

24% of older Forest 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.

Forest compared with Bedford County and Virginia

Census figure	Forest	Bedford County	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.2%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	21%	23%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	24%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.5%	5.5%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.4%	3.4%	17%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,386	$63,298	—

Older residents in towns around Forest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Timberlake, VA	4.3 mi	2,386	211
Lynchburg, VA	4.8 mi	11,391	1,690
Madison Heights, VA	11 mi	2,157	260
Bedford, VA	13 mi	1,647	270
Altavista, VA	17 mi	656	87
Buena Vista, VA	25 mi	1,240	164

Nursing homes near Forest

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Summit Health And Rehab Center	Lynchburg, VA	2.4 mi	3 of 5	120	(434) 845-6045
Lynchburg Health & Rehabilitation Center	Lynchburg, VA	5.3 mi	1 of 5	180	(434) 239-2657
Seven Hills Rehabilitation And Nursing	Lynchburg, VA	5.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(434) 846-8437
Tate Springs Health & Rehab	Lynchburg, VA	6.1 mi	4 of 5	118	(434) 846-4626
Liberty Ridge Health & Rehab	Lynchburg, VA	6.2 mi	4 of 5	90	(434) 847-2860
Forest Health & Rehab Center	Lynchburg, VA	6.3 mi	4 of 5	89	(434) 846-3200

Hospices serving Forest

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centra Health, Hospice Of The Hills	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(804) 200-3204
James River Home Health Care LLC	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(434) 849-8614
Westminster At Home (Hospice)	Lynchburg, VA	6.8 mi	(434) 386-3800
Centra Bedford Hospice	Bedford, VA	15 mi	(540) 587-6592

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest. 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 Forest

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Forest: common questions

What nursing homes are near Forest?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Summit Health And Rehab Center in Lynchburg (2.4 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Lynchburg Health & Rehabilitation Center in Lynchburg (5.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Seven Hills Rehabilitation And Nursing in Lynchburg (5.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Forest?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $6,032 monthly median income of Forest households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Forest

More senior care near Forest

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Forest

More for Forest 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 Forest, VA