In-Home Dementia Care in Merritt Island, FL

Local figures

Dementia Care in Merritt Island, FL: the local picture

1,135

residents 85 or older (3.2% of all residents)

9,659

residents 65 or older (28% of Merritt Island)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Brevard County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Merritt Island has about 1,135 residents aged 85 or older among 9,659 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.

35% of residents 65 and older report a disability (33% in Brevard County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

20% of older Merritt Island 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.

Merritt Island compared with Brevard County and Florida

Census figure	Merritt Island	Brevard County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	3.0%	2.6%
Residents 65 or older	28%	24%	21%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	26%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.2%	8.1%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	9.4%	12%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$75,371	$58,980	—

Older residents in towns around Merritt Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Cocoa Beach, FL	3.3 mi	4,128	651
Rockledge, FL	3.9 mi	7,233	968
Viera East, FL	4.0 mi	3,985	636
Viera West, FL	5.9 mi	4,051	543
Cocoa West, FL	6.7 mi	859	70
Cocoa, FL	7.1 mi	4,259	566

Nursing homes near Merritt Island

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Terrace At Courtenay Springs	Merritt Island, FL	2.2 mi	3 of 5	80	(321) 452-1233
Sunrise Point Health And Rehabilitation Center	Rockledge, FL	3.8 mi	1 of 5	100	(321) 632-7341
Rockledge Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Rockledge, FL	4.0 mi	2 of 5	107	(321) 632-6300
Viera Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Viera, FL	5.3 mi	3 of 5	114	(321) 752-1000
Space Coast Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Merritt Island, FL	5.4 mi	1 of 5	120	(321) 453-0202
Solaris Healthcare Merritt Island	Merritt Island, FL	5.8 mi	5 of 5	180	(321) 454-4035

Hospices serving Merritt Island

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mederi Caretenders Hospice	Viera, FL	7.1 mi	(321) 253-2222
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	12 mi	(321) 751-6671
Hospice Of Health First Inc	West Melbourne, FL	17 mi	(321) 434-1744
Amedisys Hospice Of Brevard	Melbourne, FL	17 mi	(321) 549-0275

Straight-line miles from the center of Merritt Island. 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 Merritt Island

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 22% of the $6,281 monthly median income of Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merritt Island?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Terrace At Courtenay Springs in Merritt Island (2.2 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Sunrise Point Health And Rehabilitation Center in Rockledge (3.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Rockledge Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Rockledge (4.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Merritt Island?

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 22% of the $6,281 monthly median income of Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island

More senior care near Merritt Island

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merritt Island

More for Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island, FL