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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Pontotoc, MS: the local picture

107

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

990

residents 65 or older (17% of Pontotoc)

57%

of residents 65+ report a disability (50% in Pontotoc County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Pontotoc has about 107 residents aged 85 or older among 990 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.

57% of residents 65 and older report a disability (50% in Pontotoc County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

50% of older Pontotoc 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.

Pontotoc compared with Pontotoc County and Mississippi

Census figure	Pontotoc	Pontotoc County	Mississippi
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	17%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	57%	50%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	50%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	14%	15%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	6.6%	4.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,436	$43,781	—

Older residents in towns around Pontotoc

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Tupelo, MS	16 mi	6,418	701
New Albany, MS	17 mi	1,427	319
Verona, MS	17 mi	263	5
Saltillo, MS	20 mi	786	25
Guntown, MS	24 mi	145	3
Houston, MS	25 mi	769	123

Nursing homes near Pontotoc

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pontotoc Nursing Home	Pontotoc, MS	0.9 mi	5 of 5	44	(662) 489-5510
Pontotoc Health & Rehab Center	Pontotoc, MS	1.1 mi	5 of 5	60	(662) 489-6411
Sunshine Health Care, Inc	Pontotoc, MS	1.9 mi	5 of 5	60	(662) 489-1189
Cedars Health Center	Tupelo, MS	15 mi	3 of 5	140	(662) 844-1441
Union Co Health And Rehab Center, Inc	New Albany, MS	16 mi	5 of 5	60	(662) 539-0502
New Albany Health & Rehab Center	New Albany, MS	18 mi	1 of 5	114	(662) 534-9506

Hospices serving Pontotoc

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Shepherd Hospice Care, LLC	New Albany, MS	16 mi	(662) 539-7086
Homecare Hospice North LLC Dba Legacy Hospice Of The South	New Albany, MS	16 mi	(662) 539-7339
Vitalcaring Group	Tupelo, MS	16 mi	(662) 205-5740
Enhabit Hospice Of Northeast Mississippi	Tupelo, MS	16 mi	(662) 844-2870

Straight-line miles from the center of Pontotoc. 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 Pontotoc

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 30% of the $3,370 monthly median income of Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc: common questions

What nursing homes are near Pontotoc?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Pontotoc Nursing Home in Pontotoc (0.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Pontotoc Health & Rehab Center in Pontotoc (1.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Sunshine Health Care, Inc in Pontotoc (1.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Pontotoc?

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 30% of the $3,370 monthly median income of Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc

More senior care near Pontotoc

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pontotoc

More for Pontotoc 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 Pontotoc, MS