Dementia Care in Petal, MS: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Petal, MS: the local picture

219

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

1,713

residents 65 or older (15% of Petal)

49%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Forrest County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Petal has about 219 residents aged 85 or older among 1,713 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.

49% of residents 65 and older report a disability (47% in Forrest County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

26% of older Petal 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.

Petal compared with Forrest County and Mississippi

Census figure	Petal	Forrest County	Mississippi
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.2%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	15%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	47%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	14%	15%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.2%	3.9%	4.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,833	$49,275	—

Older residents in towns around Petal

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hattiesburg, MS	5.6 mi	6,399	648
West Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	709	66
Ellisville, MS	17 mi	850	126
Laurel, MS	24 mi	2,504	469
Wiggins, MS	34 mi	598	72
Columbia, MS	35 mi	1,375	229

Nursing homes near Petal

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bedford Care Center Of Petal	Petal, MS	2.2 mi	5 of 5	60	(601) 544-7441
Hattiesburg Health & Rehab Center	Hattiesburg, MS	3.6 mi	3 of 5	164	(601) 544-4230
Bedford Care Ctr-Monroe Hall	Hattiesburg, MS	5.3 mi	4 of 5	80	(601) 582-9157
Bedford Alzheimer's Care Center	Hattiesburg, MS	5.3 mi	4 of 5	60	(601) 544-5300
Bedford Care Center Of Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg, MS	6.0 mi	3 of 5	120	(601) 264-3709
Forrest General Hospital Skilled Nursing Unit	Hattiesburg, MS	6.4 mi	5 of 5	30	(601) 288-4233

Hospices serving Petal

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Hospice, LLC - Southern	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	(601) 714-1221
Homecare Hospice South, LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	(601) 909-6105
Compassus-Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	(601) 705-0360
Enhabit Hospice	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	(601) 264-8691

Straight-line miles from the center of Petal. 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 Petal

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Petal: common questions

What nursing homes are near Petal?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Bedford Care Center Of Petal in Petal (2.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Hattiesburg Health & Rehab Center in Hattiesburg (3.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Bedford Care Ctr-Monroe Hall in Hattiesburg (5.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Petal?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Petal

More senior care near Petal

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Petal

More for Petal 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 Petal, MS