Dementia Care in Southside, AR: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Southside, AR: the local picture

97

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

674

residents 65 or older (16% of Southside)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Independence County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Southside has about 97 residents aged 85 or older among 674 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.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability (40% in Independence County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

20% of older Southside 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.

Southside compared with Independence County and Arkansas

Census figure	Southside	Independence County	Arkansas
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.1%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	40%	40%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	12%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.0%	5.9%	8.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,083	$45,653	—

Older residents in towns around Southside

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Batesville, AR	3.4 mi	1,802	465
Newport, AR	23 mi	1,488	122
Heber Springs, AR	27 mi	1,764	271
Bald Knob, AR	28 mi	400	25
Mountain View, AR	29 mi	939	203
Searcy, AR	34 mi	3,936	679

Nursing homes near Southside

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mountain Meadows Health And Rehabilitation	Batesville, AR	0.7 mi	4 of 5	110	(870) 251-1112
Wood-Lawn Heights	Batesville, AR	3.6 mi	4 of 5	140	(870) 793-7195
The Springs Batesville	Batesville, AR	5.0 mi	3 of 5	150	(870) 698-1853
Cave City Nursing Home Inc	Cave City, AR	16 mi	5 of 5	90	(870) 283-5313
The Blossoms At White River Rehab & Nursing Center	Newport, AR	22 mi	3 of 5	130	(870) 523-9514
The Blossoms At Newport Rehab & Nursing Center	Newport, AR	23 mi	2 of 5	120	(870) 523-6539

Hospices serving Southside

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Arkansas Hospice Inc	Batesville, AR	4.3 mi	(501) 748-3333
Caring Hands Hospice, Inc	Batesville, AR	4.3 mi	(870) 698-0505
Gentiva	Batesville, AR	4.3 mi	(870) 376-5571
Elite Hospice	Searcy, AR	33 mi	(501) 279-2048

Straight-line miles from the center of Southside. 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 Southside

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $3,840 monthly median income of Southside households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Southside: common questions

What nursing homes are near Southside?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Mountain Meadows Health And Rehabilitation in Batesville (0.7 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Wood-Lawn Heights in Batesville (3.6 mi, 4 of 5 overall); The Springs Batesville in Batesville (5.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Southside?

At the Arkansas median aide wage of $13.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,153 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $3,840 monthly median income of Southside households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Arkansas's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Southside

More senior care near Southside

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Southside

More for Southside 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 Southside, AR