Dementia Care in Old Forge, PA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Old Forge, PA: the local picture

281

residents 85 or older (3.3% of all residents)

2,099

residents 65 or older (24% of Old Forge)

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Lackawanna County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Old Forge has about 281 residents aged 85 or older among 2,099 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.

36% of residents 65 and older report a disability (34% in Lackawanna County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

50% of older Old Forge 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.

Old Forge compared with Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Old Forge	Lackawanna County	Pennsylvania
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	2.8%	2.4%
Residents 65 or older	24%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	50%	35%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.9%	13%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.7%	10%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,373	$47,340	—

Older residents in towns around Old Forge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Moosic, PA	2.1 mi	1,317	306
Taylor, PA	2.2 mi	1,134	131
Avoca, PA	2.2 mi	549	42
Duryea, PA	2.3 mi	980	117
Dupont, PA	3.2 mi	486	30
Pittston, PA	3.7 mi	1,369	133

Nursing homes near Old Forge

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oak Ridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	Taylor, PA	1.0 mi	1 of 5	142	(570) 562-2102
Scranton Health Care Center	Scranton, PA	2.4 mi	4 of 5	44	(570) 341-6676
Linwood Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Scranton, PA	4.1 mi	1 of 5	102	(570) 346-7381
Gino J Merli Veterans Center	Scranton, PA	4.9 mi	5 of 5	196	(570) 961-4300
Elan Skilled Nursing And Rehab, A Jewish Senior Li	Scranton, PA	5.2 mi	1 of 5	145	(570) 344-6177
Embassy Of Scranton	Scranton, PA	5.4 mi	1 of 5	139	(570) 346-5704

Hospices serving Old Forge

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Sacred Heart	Moosic, PA	3.3 mi	(570) 706-2400
Residential Healthcare Of NE Pa, LLC	Moosic, PA	3.3 mi	(888) 923-5842
Traditional Hospice	Dunmore, PA	8.1 mi	(570) 207-9286
Allied Services Hospice LLC	Clarks Summit, PA	8.3 mi	(570) 341-4320

Straight-line miles from the center of Old Forge. 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 Old Forge

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,364 monthly median income of Old Forge households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Old Forge: common questions

What nursing homes are near Old Forge?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Oak Ridge Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Taylor (1.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Scranton Health Care Center in Scranton (2.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Linwood Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Scranton (4.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Old Forge?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $3,364 monthly median income of Old Forge households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Old Forge

More senior care near Old Forge

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Old Forge

More for Old Forge 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 Old Forge, PA