Dementia Care in New Orleans, LA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in New Orleans, LA: the local picture

6,690

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

63,917

residents 65 or older (17% of New Orleans)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

New Orleans has about 6,690 residents aged 85 or older among 63,917 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.

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

37% of older New Orleans 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.

New Orleans compared with Louisiana

Census figure	New Orleans	Louisiana
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	21%	15%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	8.5%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,078	—

Older residents in towns around New Orleans

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Chalmette, LA	7.8 mi	2,851	422
Arabi, LA	7.9 mi	676	92
Meraux, LA	8.8 mi	877	52
Violet, LA	11 mi	744	57
Terrytown, LA	12 mi	2,876	292
Gretna, LA	12 mi	2,846	359

Nursing homes near New Orleans

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ferncrest Manor Living Center	New Orleans, LA	1.4 mi	1 of 5	200	(504) 246-1426
Lafon Nursing Facility Of The Holy Family	New Orleans, LA	5.2 mi	1 of 5	155	(504) 241-6285
St. Bernard Nursing & Rehab	New Orleans, LA	8.5 mi	1 of 5	127	(504) 246-7900
Jo Ellen Smith Convalescent Center	New Orleans, LA	9.3 mi	4 of 5	180	(504) 361-7923
Our Lady Of Wisdom Community Care Center	New Orleans, LA	11 mi	4 of 5	138	(504) 394-5991
Willow Wood At Woldenberg Village	New Orleans, LA	11 mi	4 of 5	120	(504) 367-5640

Hospices serving New Orleans

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Margaret's Home Health And Hospice	New Orleans, LA	11 mi	(504) 373-5923
Gulf South Hospice Of New Orleans	Metairie, LA	12 mi	(504) 525-2643
Heart Of Hospice	Gretna, LA	13 mi	(504) 341-0038
Notre Dame Hospice	Metairie, LA	14 mi	(504) 227-3600

Straight-line miles from the center of New Orleans. 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 New Orleans

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana 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 New Orleans: common questions

What nursing homes are near New Orleans?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Ferncrest Manor Living Center in New Orleans (1.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Lafon Nursing Facility Of The Holy Family in New Orleans (5.2 mi, 1 of 5 overall); St. Bernard Nursing & Rehab in New Orleans (8.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in New Orleans?

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana 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 New Orleans

More senior care near New Orleans

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in New Orleans

More for New Orleans 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 New Orleans, LA