Dementia Care in Freeport, FL: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Freeport, FL: the local picture

112

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

820

residents 65 or older (12% of Freeport)

28%

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

4

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Freeport has about 112 residents aged 85 or older among 820 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.

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

23% of older Freeport 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.

Freeport compared with Walton County and Florida

Census figure	Freeport	Walton County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.4%	2.6%
Residents 65 or older	12%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	23%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.0%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	20%	8.5%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$78,417	$67,531	—

Older residents in towns around Freeport

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
DeFuniak Springs, FL	14 mi	1,057	143
Miramar Beach, FL	15 mi	3,412	393
Laguna Beach, FL	20 mi	1,274	54
Niceville, FL	21 mi	3,016	354
Destin, FL	21 mi	2,572	154
Valparaiso, FL	23 mi	698	89

Nursing homes near Freeport

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Grand Boulevard Health And Rehabilitation Center	Miramar Beach, FL	14 mi	4 of 5	97	(850) 267-2887
Chautauqua Springs Health Center	Defuniak Springs, FL	14 mi	5 of 5	180	(850) 892-2176
Manor At Blue Water Bay, The	Niceville, FL	17 mi	5 of 5	120	(850) 897-5592
Destination Health And Rehabilitation Center	Destin, FL	22 mi	5 of 5	119	(850) 654-4588

Hospices serving Freeport

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Emerald Coast Hospice	Panama City, FL	35 mi	(850) 769-0055
Gentiva I	Pensacola, FL	63 mi	(704) 662-1761
Peoples Hospice And Palliative Care Of Florida LLC	Pensacola, FL	65 mi	(850) 378-5618
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Tallahassee, FL	114 mi	(850) 575-4998

Straight-line miles from the center of Freeport. 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 Freeport

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 22% of the $6,535 monthly median income of Freeport 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 Freeport: common questions

What nursing homes are near Freeport?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Grand Boulevard Health And Rehabilitation Center in Miramar Beach (14 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Chautauqua Springs Health Center in Defuniak Springs (14 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Manor At Blue Water Bay, The in Niceville (17 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Freeport?

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 22% of the $6,535 monthly median income of Freeport 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.

More near Freeport

More senior care near Freeport

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Freeport

More for Freeport 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 Freeport, FL