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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Portsmouth, VA: the local picture

1,540

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

15,037

residents 65 or older (15% of Portsmouth)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Portsmouth has about 1,540 residents aged 85 or older among 15,037 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.

38% of residents 65 and older report a disability. The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% 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 Virginia

Census figure	Portsmouth	Virginia
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.3%	17%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,831	—

Older residents in towns around Portsmouth

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Norfolk, VA	7.6 mi	30,440	2,704
Carrollton, VA	11 mi	983	22
Chesapeake, VA	13 mi	36,797	3,615
Hampton, VA	13 mi	22,962	2,048
Smithfield, VA	16 mi	1,645	188
Bethel Manor, VA	17 mi	5	0

Nursing homes near Portsmouth

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Autumn Care Of Portsmouth	Portsmouth, VA	2.5 mi	4 of 5	108	(757) 397-0725
Signature Healthcare Of Norfolk	Norfolk, VA	3.1 mi	3 of 5	169	(757) 623-5602
Portsmouth Health And Rehab	Portsmouth, VA	3.1 mi	1 of 5	120	(757) 393-6864
Harbor's Edge	Norfolk, VA	3.7 mi	5 of 5	33	(757) 233-0475
Northern Cardinal Rehabilitation And Nursing	Suffolk, VA	3.8 mi	1 of 5	120	(757) 686-0488
Portside Health & Rehab Center	Portsmouth, VA	4.1 mi	3 of 5	132	(757) 673-5000

Hospices serving Portsmouth

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bon Secours Hospice	Suffolk, VA	6.1 mi	(757) 391-6028
Wings Over Virginia LLC	Norfolk, VA	7.9 mi	(757) 392-9684
Trinity Hospice LLC	Chesapeake, VA	11 mi	(757) 664-9441
Comfort Care Home Health And Hospice	Chesapeake, VA	11 mi	(757) 312-6460

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 Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,986 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Autumn Care Of Portsmouth in Portsmouth (2.5 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Signature Healthcare Of Norfolk in Norfolk (3.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Portsmouth Health And Rehab in Portsmouth (3.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Portsmouth?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,986 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. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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, VA