Fort Pierce, Florida

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Fort Pierce, FL

Help at home for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia: steady routines, safety and patience with changes in memory and mood. Post what you need in Fort Pierce for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Dementia Care in Fort Pierce, FL: the local picture

853
residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)
10,227
residents 65 or older (21% of Fort Pierce)
29%
of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in St. Lucie County)
6+
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Fort Pierce has about 853 residents aged 85 or older among 10,227 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 (32% in St. Lucie County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older Fort Pierce 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.

Fort Pierce compared with St. Lucie County and Florida

Census figureFort PierceSt. Lucie CountyFlorida
Residents 85 or older1.7%2.7%2.6%
Residents 65 or older21%25%21%
Residents 65+ with a disability29%32%31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone33%22%25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)20%10%12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home29%25%31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$40,458$57,692—

Older residents in towns around Fort Pierce

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Fort Pierce South, FL1.3 mi981145
Fort Pierce North, FL3.5 mi1,429264
White City, FL3.7 mi2,183316
Indian River Estates, FL5.6 mi1,959154
River Park, FL7.2 mi1,494109
Lakewood Park, FL8.3 mi3,741242

Nursing homes near Fort Pierce

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Aviata At Saint LucieFort Pierce, FL1.1 mi1 of 5171(772) 464-5262
Sandgate Gardens Rehab And Nursing CenterFort Pierce, FL1.3 mi2 of 5107(772) 466-3322
Vivo Healthcare Fort PierceFort Pierce, FL1.3 mi3 of 579(772) 465-7560
Port St Lucie Rehabilitation And HealthcarePort Saint Lucie, FL5.8 mi3 of 5180(561) 766-4100
Savannas Park Health And Rehabilitation CenterPort Saint Lucie, FL9.5 mi3 of 5120(772) 337-1333
Palm Garden Of Port Saint LuciePort Saint Lucie, FL10 mi4 of 5120(772) 335-8844

Hospices serving Fort Pierce

HospiceOfficeDistancePhone
Treasure Coast Hospice Of St LucieFort Pierce, FL1.9 mi(772) 403-4500
Vna Hospice Of Indian River County IncVero Beach, FL15 mi(772) 567-5551
Treasure Coast Hospice Of MartinStuart, FL21 mi(772) 403-4500
Hospice Of Okeechobee IncorporatedOkeechobee, FL34 mi(813) 467-2321

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Pierce. 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 Fort Pierce

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 42% of the $3,372 monthly median income of Fort Pierce households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Fort Pierce: common questions

What nursing homes are near Fort Pierce?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Aviata At Saint Lucie in Fort Pierce (1.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Sandgate Gardens Rehab And Nursing Center in Fort Pierce (1.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Vivo Healthcare Fort Pierce in Fort Pierce (1.3 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Fort Pierce?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 42% of the $3,372 monthly median income of Fort Pierce households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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.

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.

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