Dementia Care in Gastonia, NC: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Gastonia, NC: the local picture

1,430

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

12,357

residents 65 or older (15% of Gastonia)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Gaston County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Gastonia has about 1,430 residents aged 85 or older among 12,357 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.

37% of residents 65 and older report a disability (36% in Gaston County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

30% of older Gastonia 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.

Gastonia compared with Gaston County and North Carolina

Census figure	Gastonia	Gaston County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	36%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	12%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	10.0%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,093	$44,483	—

Older residents in towns around Gastonia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Ranlo, NC	4.3 mi	762	97
Dallas, NC	4.8 mi	817	94
Lowell, NC	5.0 mi	607	0
Bessemer City, NC	6.0 mi	941	100
Cramerton, NC	6.5 mi	787	69
Belmont, NC	8.4 mi	2,688	170

Nursing homes near Gastonia

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Belmont Health & Rehabilitation	Gastonia, NC	1.5 mi	4 of 5	118	(704) 864-0371
Belaire Health Care Center	Gastonia, NC	1.5 mi	2 of 5	80	(704) 867-7300
Courtland Terrace	Gastonia, NC	3.0 mi	4 of 5	77	(704) 834-4800
Gastonia Health & Rehab Center	Gastonia, NC	3.1 mi	1 of 5	60	(704) 853-8175
Peak Resources - Gastonia	Gastonia, NC	3.3 mi	5 of 5	104	(704) 861-0981
The Greens At Gastonia	Gastonia, NC	3.5 mi	1 of 5	162	(704) 866-8596

Hospices serving Gastonia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Carolina Caring	Gastonia, NC	3.0 mi	(704) 861-8405
Epic Care Health LLC	Fort Mill, SC	18 mi	(803) 620-9399
Novant Health Hospice And Palliative Care A Department Of Novant Health	Charlotte, NC	21 mi	(704) 384-6478
Via Health Partners - Cleveland	Shelby, NC	21 mi	(704) 487-4677

Straight-line miles from the center of Gastonia. 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 Gastonia

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,341 monthly median income of Gastonia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 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 Gastonia: common questions

What nursing homes are near Gastonia?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Belmont Health & Rehabilitation in Gastonia (1.5 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Belaire Health Care Center in Gastonia (1.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Courtland Terrace in Gastonia (3.0 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Gastonia?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,341 monthly median income of Gastonia households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Gastonia

More senior care near Gastonia

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gastonia

More for Gastonia 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 Gastonia, NC