Dementia Care in Pigeon Forge, TN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Pigeon Forge, TN: the local picture

117

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

1,009

residents 65 or older (16% of Pigeon Forge)

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Sevier County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Pigeon Forge has about 117 residents aged 85 or older among 1,009 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.

41% of residents 65 and older report a disability (36% in Sevier County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

31% of older Pigeon 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.

Pigeon Forge compared with Sevier County and Tennessee

Census figure	Pigeon Forge	Sevier County	Tennessee
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.8%	1.6%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	36%	36%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	23%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.9%	11%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	34%	10%	8.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,673	$54,415	—

Older residents in towns around Pigeon Forge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Gatlinburg, TN	6.4 mi	838	115
Sevierville, TN	6.4 mi	3,392	521
Seymour, TN	13 mi	2,935	299
Dandridge, TN	18 mi	814	74
Strawberry Plains, TN	19 mi	466	50
Eagleton Village, TN	21 mi	1,219	109

Nursing homes near Pigeon Forge

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Smoky Mountain Health And Rehabilitation Center	Pigeon Forge, TN	0.9 mi	1 of 5	120	(865) 428-5454
Sevierville Health And Rehabilitation Center	Sevierville, TN	5.3 mi	4 of 5	98	(865) 453-4747
Jefferson County Nursing Home	Dandridge, TN	18 mi	3 of 5	160	(865) 397-3163
Asbury Place At Maryville	Maryville, TN	20 mi	1 of 5	181	(865) 984-1660
Holston Health & Rehabilitation Center	Knoxville, TN	21 mi	5 of 5	94	(865) 524-1500
Ocoee Transitional Care Center LLC	Maryville, TN	21 mi	3 of 5	76	(865) 273-8300

Hospices serving Pigeon Forge

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Smoky Mountain Home Health And Hospice, Inc	Newport, TN	23 mi	(423) 623-0233
University Of TN Medical Center Home Care Services -Knoxville TN	Knoxville, TN	24 mi	(865) 544-6222
Amedisys Hospice An Adventa Company	Knoxville, TN	27 mi	(865) 689-7123
Covenant Hospice	Knoxville, TN	28 mi	(865) 374-0600

Straight-line miles from the center of Pigeon 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 Pigeon Forge

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,223 monthly median income of Pigeon Forge households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee 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 TennCare CHOICES: how to get paid to care for a family member in Tennessee.

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 Pigeon Forge: common questions

What nursing homes are near Pigeon Forge?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Smoky Mountain Health And Rehabilitation Center in Pigeon Forge (0.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Sevierville Health And Rehabilitation Center in Sevierville (5.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Jefferson County Nursing Home in Dandridge (18 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Pigeon Forge?

At the Tennessee median aide wage of $15.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,339 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,223 monthly median income of Pigeon Forge households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Tennessee 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 Pigeon Forge

More senior care near Pigeon Forge

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pigeon Forge

More for Pigeon 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 Pigeon Forge, TN