Dementia Care in Oak Island, NC: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Oak Island, NC: the local picture

147

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

3,796

residents 65 or older (42% of Oak Island)

19%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Oak Island has about 147 residents aged 85 or older among 3,796 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.

19% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Brunswick County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

24% of older Oak 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.

Oak Island compared with Brunswick County and North Carolina

Census figure	Oak Island	Brunswick County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	42%	34%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	20%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.6%	5.7%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.8%	5.0%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,696	$69,925	—

Older residents in towns around Oak Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
St. James, NC	2.4 mi	4,439	108
Southport, NC	6.5 mi	2,014	294
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC	9.4 mi	1,290	58
Carolina Beach, NC	15 mi	1,351	50
Shallotte, NC	16 mi	1,100	137
Myrtle Grove, NC	20 mi	2,200	166

Nursing homes near Oak Island

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Liberty Commons Nursing & Rehab Center Of Southpor	Southport, NC	5.8 mi	3 of 5	99	(910) 457-9581
Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Bolivia, NC	11 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 755-5955
Autumn Care Of Shallotte	Shallotte, NC	16 mi	2 of 5	100	(910) 754-8858
Autumn Care Of Myrtle Grove	Wilmington, NC	20 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 792-1455
Brunswick Cove Nursing Center	Winnabow, NC	20 mi	2 of 5	175	(910) 371-9894
Trinity Grove	Wilmington, NC	21 mi	3 of 5	100	(910) 442-3000

Hospices serving Oak Island

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare	Wilmington, NC	24 mi	(910) 796-7900
Liberty Home Care And Hospice	Wilmington, NC	25 mi	(910) 251-8111
Amedisys Hospice Care	Pembroke, NC	81 mi	(855) 809-0997
Gentiva	Fayetteville, NC	94 mi	(910) 323-9816

Straight-line miles from the center of Oak 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 Oak Island

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,975 monthly median income of Oak Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 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 Oak Island: common questions

What nursing homes are near Oak Island?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Liberty Commons Nursing & Rehab Center Of Southpor in Southport (5.8 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Bolivia (11 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Autumn Care Of Shallotte in Shallotte (16 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Oak Island?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,975 monthly median income of Oak Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Oak Island

More senior care near Oak Island

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Oak Island

More for Oak 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 Oak Island, NC