Dementia Care in Merrifield, VA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Merrifield, VA: the local picture

190

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

1,806

residents 65 or older (8.7% of Merrifield)

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Fairfax County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Merrifield has about 190 residents aged 85 or older among 1,806 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.

20% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Fairfax County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

24% of older Merrifield 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.

Merrifield compared with Fairfax County and Virginia

Census figure	Merrifield	Fairfax County	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	8.7%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	24%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	22%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.8%	5.2%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	54%	39%	17%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$101,792	$119,967	—

Older residents in towns around Merrifield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Dunn Loring, VA	1.6 mi	1,679	181
Mantua, VA	1.7 mi	1,088	151
Woodburn, VA	1.7 mi	1,262	99
Vienna, VA	2.1 mi	2,484	327
Idylwood, VA	2.3 mi	2,098	198
West Falls Church, VA	2.8 mi	4,454	467

Nursing homes near Merrifield

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Boulevard Post Acute	Fairfax, VA	1.4 mi	3 of 5	81	(703) 385-0555
August Healthcare At Iliff	Dunn Loring, VA	1.6 mi	3 of 5	130	(703) 560-1000
Annandale Healthcare Center	Annandale, VA	4.2 mi	1 of 5	222	(703) 256-7000
Fairfax Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Fairfax, VA	4.4 mi	2 of 5	200	(703) 273-7705
Vierra Falls Church	Falls Church, VA	4.8 mi	2 of 5	160	(703) 538-2400
August Healthcare At Leewood	Annandale, VA	4.9 mi	2 of 5	157	(703) 256-9770

Hospices serving Merrifield

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Capital Hospice	Falls Church, VA	2.5 mi	(703) 712-4874
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Atlantic	Fairfax, VA	4.9 mi	(703) 270-4300
Blue Ridge Hospice, Inc	Winchester, VA	55 mi	(540) 536-5210
First Choice Hospice	Harrisonburg, VA	89 mi	(540) 434-3916

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrifield. 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 Merrifield

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $8,483 monthly median income of Merrifield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Merrifield: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merrifield?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Boulevard Post Acute in Fairfax (1.4 mi, 3 of 5 overall); August Healthcare At Iliff in Dunn Loring (1.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Annandale Healthcare Center in Annandale (4.2 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Merrifield?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $8,483 monthly median income of Merrifield households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Merrifield

More senior care near Merrifield

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merrifield

More for Merrifield 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 Merrifield, VA