Hershey, Pennsylvania

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Hershey, PA

Help at home for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia: steady routines, safety and patience with changes in memory and mood. Post what you need in Hershey for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Dementia Care in Hershey, PA: the local picture

669
residents 85 or older (4.7% of all residents)
3,017
residents 65 or older (21% of Hershey)
37%
of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Dauphin County)
6+
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Hershey has about 669 residents aged 85 or older among 3,017 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 (32% in Dauphin County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

34% of older Hershey 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.

Hershey compared with Dauphin County and Pennsylvania

Census figureHersheyDauphin CountyPennsylvania
Residents 85 or older4.7%2.1%2.4%
Residents 65 or older21%18%19%
Residents 65+ with a disability37%32%32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone34%29%30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)16%12%9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home16%15%12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$61,174$59,435—

Older residents in towns around Hershey

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Campbelltown, PA3.2 mi861234
Palmyra, PA3.3 mi1,333159
Hummelstown, PA3.8 mi692136
Skyline View, PA5.8 mi1,85439
Rutherford, PA6.5 mi79924
Middletown, PA7.1 mi1,494236

Nursing homes near Hershey

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Kadima Rehabilitation & Nursing At CampbelltownPalmyra, PA3.0 mi1 of 553(717) 838-2231
Kadima Rehabilitation & Nursing At PalmyraPalmyra, PA3.2 minot rated39(717) 838-3011
Lebanon Valley Brethren HomePalmyra, PA3.9 mi5 of 588(717) 838-5406
Oak Hill Center For Rehabilitation And NursingMiddletown, PA6.9 mi2 of 5136(717) 944-0451
Courtyard Gardens Nursing And Rehab CtrMiddletown, PA8.0 mi3 of 5102(717) 944-3351
Lebanon Valley Home TheAnnville, PA8.1 mi3 of 555(717) 867-4467

Hospices serving Hershey

HospiceOfficeDistancePhone
Hospice For All Seasons, LLCGrantville, PA5.7 mi(717) 234-2555
Lifesong Hospice And Palliative CareHarrisburg, PA8.3 mi(717) 585-6687
Crossings Hospice Of The VnaHarrisburg, PA8.3 mi(717) 233-1035
Bayada HospiceHarrisburg, PA8.3 mi(570) 994-1514

Straight-line miles from the center of Hershey. 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 Hershey

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,098 monthly median income of Hershey households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Hershey: common questions

What nursing homes are near Hershey?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Kadima Rehabilitation & Nursing At Campbelltown in Palmyra (3.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Kadima Rehabilitation & Nursing At Palmyra in Palmyra (3.2 mi, not rated overall); Lebanon Valley Brethren Home in Palmyra (3.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Hershey?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,098 monthly median income of Hershey households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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.

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.

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