Dementia Care in Portsmouth, NH: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Portsmouth, NH: the local picture

592

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

4,946

residents 65 or older (22% of Portsmouth)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Rockingham County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Portsmouth has about 592 residents aged 85 or older among 4,946 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.

29% of residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Rockingham County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Portsmouth 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.

Portsmouth compared with Rockingham County and New Hampshire

Census figure	Portsmouth	Rockingham County	New Hampshire
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	20%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	24%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.8%	6.0%	7.7%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	6.5%	7.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,426	$75,258	—

Older residents in towns around Portsmouth

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Kittery, ME	2.9 mi	1,402	427
South Eliot, ME	5.2 mi	1,380	95
Newmarket, NH	8.2 mi	756	59
Hampton, NH	8.4 mi	2,720	289
York Harbor, ME	8.8 mi	981	228
Durham, NH	9.2 mi	802	133

Nursing homes near Portsmouth

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Edgewood Centre (The)	Portsmouth, NH	0.9 mi	3 of 5	156	(603) 436-0099
Cedar Healthcare Center	Portsmouth, NH	1.1 mi	5 of 5	102	(603) 431-2530
Webster At Rye	Rye, NH	3.8 mi	4 of 5	61	(603) 964-8144
Durgin Pines	Kittery, ME	5.4 mi	5 of 5	81	(207) 439-9800
Saint Ann Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Dover, NH	7.0 mi	4 of 5	54	(603) 742-2612
Oceanside Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation	Hampton, NH	8.2 mi	1 of 5	117	(603) 926-4551

Hospices serving Portsmouth

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Beacon Hospice, An Amedisys Company	Portsmouth, NH	1.5 mi	(603) 433-2480
Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home	Exeter, NH	10 mi	(603) 772-2981
Wentworth Home Care & Hospice, An Amedisys Partner	Somersworth, NH	14 mi	(603) 692-0220
Cornerstone Vna	Rochester, NH	20 mi	(603) 332-1133

Straight-line miles from the center of Portsmouth. 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 Portsmouth

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,119 monthly median income of Portsmouth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Portsmouth: common questions

What nursing homes are near Portsmouth?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Edgewood Centre (The) in Portsmouth (0.9 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Cedar Healthcare Center in Portsmouth (1.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Webster At Rye in Rye (3.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Portsmouth?

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,119 monthly median income of Portsmouth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire'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 Portsmouth

More senior care near Portsmouth

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Portsmouth

More for Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth, NH