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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Galax, VA: the local picture

212

residents 85 or older (3.2% of all residents)

1,418

residents 65 or older (21% of Galax)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Galax has about 212 residents aged 85 or older among 1,418 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.

34% of residents 65 and older report a disability. The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

47% of older Galax 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.

Galax compared with Virginia

Census figure	Galax	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	21%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	47%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	17%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$29,440	—

Older residents in towns around Galax

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hillsville, VA	12 mi	630	173
Mount Airy, NC	20 mi	2,720	666
Wytheville, VA	22 mi	1,952	406
Pulaski, VA	28 mi	1,600	208
Elkin, NC	28 mi	902	146
Jonesville, NC	30 mi	729	89

Nursing homes near Galax

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Galax Health And Rehab	Galax, VA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	120	(276) 236-9991
Waddell Nursing And Rehab Center	Galax, VA	1.0 mi	5 of 5	135	(276) 236-5164
Hillsville Health & Rehab Center	Hillsville, VA	12 mi	5 of 5	60	(276) 728-2486
Grayson Health And Rehabilitation	Independence, VA	14 mi	5 of 5	120	(276) 773-0303
Lotus Village Center For Nursing And Rehabilitatio	Sparta, NC	16 mi	1 of 5	90	(336) 372-2441
Surry Community Health Center By Harborview	Mount Airy, NC	19 mi	1 of 5	120	(336) 789-5076

Hospices serving Galax

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care	Galax, VA	0.6 mi	(276) 728-1030
Wythe Hospice Of Swva	Wytheville, VA	22 mi	(276) 228-1710
Gentiva Ii	Wytheville, VA	22 mi	(540) 366-0927
Medi Home Health And Hospice - Pulaski	Pulaski, VA	28 mi	(540) 980-0478

Straight-line miles from the center of Galax. 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 Galax

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 51% of the $2,453 monthly median income of Galax 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 Galax: common questions

What nursing homes are near Galax?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Galax Health And Rehab in Galax (0.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Waddell Nursing And Rehab Center in Galax (1.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Hillsville Health & Rehab Center in Hillsville (12 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Galax?

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 51% of the $2,453 monthly median income of Galax 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 Galax

More senior care near Galax

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Galax

More for Galax 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 Galax, VA