Dementia Care in St. James, NC: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in St. James, NC: the local picture

108

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

4,439

residents 65 or older (63% of St. James)

13%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Brunswick County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

St. James has about 108 residents aged 85 or older among 4,439 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.

13% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Brunswick County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

8.4% of older St. James 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.

St. James compared with Brunswick County and North Carolina

Census figure	St. James	Brunswick County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	63%	34%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	13%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	8.4%	20%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.6%	5.7%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.1%	5.0%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$117,045	$69,925	—

Older residents in towns around St. James

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Oak Island, NC	2.4 mi	3,796	147
Southport, NC	5.3 mi	2,014	294
Boiling Spring Lakes, NC	7.0 mi	1,290	58
Carolina Beach, NC	13 mi	1,351	50
Shallotte, NC	16 mi	1,100	137
Myrtle Grove, NC	17 mi	2,200	166

Nursing homes near St. James

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Liberty Commons Nursing & Rehab Center Of Southpor	Southport, NC	4.7 mi	3 of 5	99	(910) 457-9581
Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Bolivia, NC	10 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 755-5955
Autumn Care Of Shallotte	Shallotte, NC	17 mi	2 of 5	100	(910) 754-8858
Autumn Care Of Myrtle Grove	Wilmington, NC	17 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 792-1455
Brunswick Cove Nursing Center	Winnabow, NC	18 mi	2 of 5	175	(910) 371-9894
Trinity Grove	Wilmington, NC	18 mi	3 of 5	100	(910) 442-3000

Hospices serving St. James

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare	Wilmington, NC	21 mi	(910) 796-7900
Liberty Home Care And Hospice	Wilmington, NC	23 mi	(910) 251-8111
Amedisys Hospice Care	Pembroke, NC	81 mi	(855) 809-0997
Gentiva	Fayetteville, NC	92 mi	(910) 323-9816

Straight-line miles from the center of St. James. 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 St. James

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 $9,754 monthly median income of St. James 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 St. James: common questions

What nursing homes are near St. James?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Liberty Commons Nursing & Rehab Center Of Southpor in Southport (4.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Bolivia (10 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Autumn Care Of Shallotte in Shallotte (17 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in St. James?

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 $9,754 monthly median income of St. James 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 St. James

More senior care near St. James

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. James

More for St. James 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 St. James, NC