Dementia Care in Gulf Shores, AL: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Gulf Shores, AL: the local picture

560

residents 85 or older (3.4% of all residents)

4,249

residents 65 or older (26% of Gulf Shores)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Baldwin County)

4

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Gulf Shores has about 560 residents aged 85 or older among 4,249 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 Baldwin County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

25% of older Gulf Shores 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.

Gulf Shores compared with Baldwin County and Alabama

Census figure	Gulf Shores	Baldwin County	Alabama
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	26%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	26%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.7%	7.3%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.5%	5.9%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$75,547	$60,574	—

Older residents in towns around Gulf Shores

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Bon Secour, AL	3.1 mi	415	13
Orange Beach, AL	6.5 mi	1,996	125
Foley, AL	8.5 mi	7,753	761
Robertsdale, AL	19 mi	1,230	85
Fairhope, AL	20 mi	6,294	604
Pensacola Station, FL	24 mi	4	0

Nursing homes near Gulf Shores

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Diversicare Of Foley	Foley, AL	10 mi	2 of 5	154	(251) 943-2781
Robertsdale Rehabilitation & Healthcare Ctr	Robertsdale, AL	21 mi	2 of 5	152	(251) 947-1911
Fairhope Health & Rehab	Fairhope, AL	21 mi	2 of 5	131	(251) 928-2153
Altera Health And Rehabilitation Center	Fairhope, AL	23 mi	4 of 5	83	(251) 928-2177

Hospices serving Gulf Shores

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Acg Hospice	Foley, AL	8.6 mi	(251) 334-9435
Aveanna Hospice Of Fairhope	Fairhope, AL	19 mi	(251) 462-1428
Amedisys Hospice Of Mobile	Mobile, AL	35 mi	(251) 343-0989
Gentiva Mobile	Mobile, AL	36 mi	(251) 478-9900

Straight-line miles from the center of Gulf Shores. 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 Gulf Shores

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $6,296 monthly median income of Gulf Shores households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Gulf Shores: common questions

What nursing homes are near Gulf Shores?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Diversicare Of Foley in Foley (10 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Robertsdale Rehabilitation & Healthcare Ctr in Robertsdale (21 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Fairhope Health & Rehab in Fairhope (21 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Gulf Shores?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $6,296 monthly median income of Gulf Shores households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Gulf Shores

More senior care near Gulf Shores

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gulf Shores

More for Gulf Shores 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 Gulf Shores, AL