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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Highland City, FL: the local picture

56

residents 85 or older (0.4% of all residents)

1,941

residents 65 or older (15% of Highland City)

32%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Highland City has about 56 residents aged 85 or older among 1,941 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.

32% of residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Polk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

14% of older Highland City 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.

Highland City compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Highland City	Polk County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	0.4%	2.1%	2.6%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	24%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	12%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	16%	28%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,371	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Highland City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Lakeland Highlands, FL	4.4 mi	2,431	286
Crystal Lake, FL	5.2 mi	630	27
Medulla, FL	6.3 mi	1,674	124
Jan Phyl Village, FL	6.3 mi	833	17
Bartow, FL	6.3 mi	3,376	576
Fussels Corner, FL	6.6 mi	1,904	164

Nursing homes near Highland City

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Highlands Lake Center	Lakeland, FL	3.2 mi	2 of 5	179	(863) 646-8699
Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation Center	Lakeland, FL	4.5 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 500-4015
Bartow Center	Bartow, FL	6.5 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 533-0578
Bridgewalk On Harden Health And Rehabilitation, Ll	Lakeland, FL	6.5 mi	1 of 5	120	(863) 648-4800
Florida Presbyterian Homes Inc	Lakeland, FL	6.9 mi	4 of 5	68	(863) 688-5521
Charming Lakes Rehab	Lakeland, FL	8.4 mi	2 of 5	120	(863) 682-7580

Hospices serving Highland City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Central Florida Inc	Lakeland, FL	3.7 mi	(863) 709-0099
Good Shepherd Hospice	Lakeland, FL	9.0 mi	(863) 682-0067
Hospice Of Lake & Sumter Inc	Tavares, FL	59 mi	(352) 343-1341

Straight-line miles from the center of Highland City. 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 Highland City

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 27% of the $5,281 monthly median income of Highland City 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 Highland City: common questions

What nursing homes are near Highland City?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Highlands Lake Center in Lakeland (3.2 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Scott Lake Health And Rehabilitation Center in Lakeland (4.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Bartow Center in Bartow (6.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Highland City?

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 27% of the $5,281 monthly median income of Highland City 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 Highland City

More senior care near Highland City

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Highland City

More for Highland City 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 Highland City, FL