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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Gifford, FL: the local picture

26

residents 85 or older (0.6% of all residents)

560

residents 65 or older (12% of Gifford)

34%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Gifford has about 26 residents aged 85 or older among 560 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 (29% in Indian River County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

25% of older Gifford 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.

Gifford compared with Indian River County and Florida

Census figure	Gifford	Indian River County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	0.6%	4.8%	2.6%
Residents 65 or older	12%	35%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	25%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.0%	8.3%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	14%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,375	$66,445	—

Older residents in towns around Gifford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Winter Beach, FL	2.7 mi	1,825	105
Vero Beach, FL	2.8 mi	4,925	754
Indian River Shores, FL	3.6 mi	3,204	709
Vero Beach South, FL	4.4 mi	9,166	1,012
West Vero Corridor, FL	4.5 mi	5,836	1,074
Florida Ridge, FL	6.9 mi	5,763	620

Nursing homes near Gifford

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Palm Garden Of Vero Beach	Vero Beach, FL	1.8 mi	3 of 5	189	(772) 567-2443
Sea Breeze Rehab And Nursing Center	Vero Beach, FL	1.9 mi	1 of 5	110	(772) 567-2552
Vero Beach Care Center	Vero Beach, FL	1.9 mi	2 of 5	159	(772) 569-5107
Hidden Lakes Senior Living Community	Vero Beach, FL	2.5 mi	3 of 5	24	(772) 567-5248
Garden View Health And Rehabilitation Center	Vero Beach, FL	3.1 mi	1 of 5	72	(772) 567-5166
Willowbrooke Court At Indian River Estates	Vero Beach, FL	4.4 mi	5 of 5	40	(772) 562-8700

Hospices serving Gifford

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vna Hospice Of Indian River County Inc	Vero Beach, FL	3.2 mi	(772) 567-5551
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	36 mi	(321) 751-6671

Straight-line miles from the center of Gifford. 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 Gifford

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 32% of the $4,448 monthly median income of Gifford 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 Gifford: common questions

What nursing homes are near Gifford?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Palm Garden Of Vero Beach in Vero Beach (1.8 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Sea Breeze Rehab And Nursing Center in Vero Beach (1.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Vero Beach Care Center in Vero Beach (1.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Gifford?

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 32% of the $4,448 monthly median income of Gifford 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 Gifford

More senior care near Gifford

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gifford

More for Gifford 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 Gifford, FL