Dementia Care in Smithtown, NY: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Smithtown, NY: the local picture

1,069

residents 85 or older (4.4% of all residents)

4,640

residents 65 or older (19% of Smithtown)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Suffolk County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Smithtown has about 1,069 residents aged 85 or older among 4,640 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 (28% in Suffolk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

20% of older Smithtown 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.

Smithtown compared with Suffolk County and New York

Census figure	Smithtown	Suffolk County	New York
Residents 85 or older	4.4%	2.2%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	19%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	28%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	23%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.6%	7.3%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	25%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$96,250	$87,077	—

Older residents in towns around Smithtown

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hauppauge, NY	2.4 mi	3,940	463
Kings Park, NY	2.5 mi	4,053	1,082
Nesconset, NY	3.5 mi	1,813	240
Commack, NY	3.6 mi	6,179	1,146
St. James, NY	3.6 mi	2,997	519
Islandia, NY	4.2 mi	623	47

Nursing homes near Smithtown

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
St Catherine Of Siena Nursing And Rehabilitation C	Smithtown, NY	1.1 mi	3 of 5	240	(631) 862-3900
Brookside Multicare Nursing Center	Smithtown, NY	1.2 mi	5 of 5	353	(631) 724-2200
Smithtown Center For Rehabilitation & Nursing Care	Smithtown, NY	2.6 mi	2 of 5	162	(631) 361-2020
The Hamlet Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center At	Nesconset, NY	3.1 mi	5 of 5	240	(631) 361-8800
St Johnland Nursing Center	Kings Park, NY	3.2 mi	1 of 5	250	(631) 269-5800
St James Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center	St James, NY	4.2 mi	4 of 5	230	(631) 862-8000

Hospices serving Smithtown

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vns And Hospice Of Suffolk, Inc	East Northport, NY	5.1 mi	(631) 930-9399
Hospice Care Of Long Island, Queens, South Shore	Woodbury, NY	14 mi	(516) 832-7100
Nyu Langone Hospital - Suffolk Hospice	Patchogue, NY	14 mi	(631) 687-2960
Good Shepherd Hospice	Farmingdale, NY	14 mi	(631) 465-6300

Straight-line miles from the center of Smithtown. 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 Smithtown

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $8,021 monthly median income of Smithtown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Smithtown: common questions

What nursing homes are near Smithtown?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are St Catherine Of Siena Nursing And Rehabilitation C in Smithtown (1.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Brookside Multicare Nursing Center in Smithtown (1.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Smithtown Center For Rehabilitation & Nursing Care in Smithtown (2.6 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Smithtown?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $8,021 monthly median income of Smithtown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Smithtown

More senior care near Smithtown

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Smithtown

More for Smithtown 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 Smithtown, NY