In-Home Dementia Care in Southern Shores, NC

Local figures

Dementia Care in Southern Shores, NC: the local picture

81

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

996

residents 65 or older (32% of Southern Shores)

35%

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

2

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Southern Shores has about 81 residents aged 85 or older among 996 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.

35% of residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Dare County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

19% of older Southern Shores 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.

Southern Shores compared with Dare County and North Carolina

Census figure	Southern Shores	Dare County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	32%	25%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	26%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	29%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.0%	5.9%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.2%	8.6%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$116,786	$70,567	—

Older residents in towns around Southern Shores

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Kitty Hawk, NC	3.3 mi	744	79
Kill Devil Hills, NC	7.7 mi	1,471	54
Nags Head, NC	13 mi	1,264	184
Elizabeth City, NC	31 mi	3,507	327
Moyock, NC	36 mi	717	37
Edenton, NC	49 mi	1,254	73

Nursing homes near Southern Shores

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Peak Resources-Outer Banks	Nags Head, NC	11 mi	3 of 5	126	(252) 441-3116
Currituck Health & Rehab Center	Barco, NC	23 mi	1 of 5	100	(252) 457-0500

Hospices serving Southern Shores

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Adoration Home Health And Hospice	Nags Head, NC	18 mi	(252) 263-5800
Albemarle Home Care And Hospice	Elizabeth City, NC	31 mi	(252) 338-4066
Amedisys Hospice Care	Plymouth, NC	59 mi	(252) 791-0490
Community Hospice LLC	New Bern, NC	104 mi	(252) 672-8301

Straight-line miles from the center of Southern Shores. 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 Southern Shores

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 13% of the $9,732 monthly median income of Southern Shores households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Southern Shores: common questions

What nursing homes are near Southern Shores?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Peak Resources-Outer Banks in Nags Head (11 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Currituck Health & Rehab Center in Barco (23 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Southern Shores?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 13% of the $9,732 monthly median income of Southern Shores households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 Southern Shores

More senior care near Southern Shores

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Southern Shores

More for Southern Shores 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 Southern Shores, NC