In-Home Dementia Care in North Merritt Island, FL

Local figures

Dementia Care in North Merritt Island, FL: the local picture

404

residents 85 or older (4.5% of all residents)

2,520

residents 65 or older (28% of North Merritt Island)

35%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

North Merritt Island has about 404 residents aged 85 or older among 2,520 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.

24% of older North 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.

North Merritt Island compared with Brevard County and Florida

Census figure	North Merritt Island	Brevard County	Florida
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	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	24%	26%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.0%	8.1%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.9%	12%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$79,667	$58,980	—

Older residents in towns around North Merritt Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Sharpes, FL	3.2 mi	607	59
Port St. John, FL	6.0 mi	4,405	329
Cocoa, FL	6.6 mi	4,259	566
Cocoa West, FL	7.9 mi	859	70
Cape Canaveral, FL	8.1 mi	3,590	341
Rockledge, FL	9.8 mi	7,233	968

Nursing homes near North Merritt Island

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Solaris Healthcare Merritt Island	Merritt Island, FL	5.0 mi	5 of 5	180	(321) 454-4035
Space Coast Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Merritt Island, FL	5.4 mi	1 of 5	120	(321) 453-0202
The Terrace At Courtenay Springs	Merritt Island, FL	8.6 mi	3 of 5	80	(321) 452-1233
Rockledge Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Rockledge, FL	9.1 mi	2 of 5	107	(321) 632-6300
Sunrise Point Health And Rehabilitation Center	Rockledge, FL	9.4 mi	1 of 5	100	(321) 632-7341
Royal Oaks Nursing And Rehab Center	Titusville, FL	10 mi	4 of 5	120	(321) 267-0060

Hospices serving North Merritt Island

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St. Francis Hospice	Titusville, FL	9.9 mi	(321) 269-4240
Mederi Caretenders Hospice	Viera, FL	18 mi	(321) 253-2222
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Of Florida	Melbourne, FL	23 mi	(321) 751-6671
Hospice Of Health First Inc	West Melbourne, FL	27 mi	(321) 434-1744

Straight-line miles from the center of North 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 North 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 21% of the $6,639 monthly median income of North 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 North Merritt Island: common questions

What nursing homes are near North Merritt Island?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Solaris Healthcare Merritt Island in Merritt Island (5.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Space Coast Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Merritt Island (5.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); The Terrace At Courtenay Springs in Merritt Island (8.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in North 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 21% of the $6,639 monthly median income of North 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 North Merritt Island

More senior care near North Merritt Island

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in North Merritt Island

More for North 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 North Merritt Island, FL