Dementia Care in St. Simons, GA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in St. Simons, GA: the local picture

502

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

6,133

residents 65 or older (38% of St. Simons)

18%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Glynn County)

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

St. Simons has about 502 residents aged 85 or older among 6,133 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.

18% of residents 65 and older report a disability (29% in Glynn County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

21% of older St. Simons 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. Simons compared with Glynn County and Georgia

Census figure	St. Simons	Glynn County	Georgia
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.6%	1.4%
Residents 65 or older	38%	23%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	18%	29%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	21%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.1%	9.9%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.3%	8.6%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$94,770	$59,919	—

Older residents in towns around St. Simons

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Country Club Estates, GA	4.9 mi	1,124	55
Brunswick, GA	5.7 mi	2,812	580
Dock Junction, GA	7.8 mi	1,499	217
St. Marys, GA	31 mi	3,250	237
Kingsland, GA	33 mi	2,256	196
Fernandina Beach, FL	36 mi	5,069	509

Nursing homes near St. Simons

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Heritage Oaks	Saint Simons Island, GA	0.8 mi	4 of 5	125	(912) 638-9988
Marsh's Edge	Saint Simons Island, GA	3.1 mi	5 of 5	20	(912) 291-2000
Senior Care Center - Brunswick	Brunswick, GA	5.8 mi	1 of 5	200	(912) 265-8528
Gracemore Nursing And Rehab	Brunswick, GA	6.4 mi	5 of 5	60	(912) 265-6771
Sears Manor Nursing Home	Brunswick, GA	6.5 mi	2 of 5	100	(912) 264-1857

Hospices serving St. Simons

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Georgia Hospice Care	Brunswick, GA	6.5 mi	(912) 574-7833
Gentiva	Brunswick, GA	6.5 mi	(912) 261-8760
Coastal Hospice Of Georgia	Brunswick, GA	11 mi	(912) 434-9810
Hearth Hospice Of Brunswick, LLC	Brunswick, GA	11 mi	(912) 574-5882

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

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $7,898 monthly median income of St. Simons households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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. Simons: common questions

What nursing homes are near St. Simons?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Heritage Oaks in Saint Simons Island (0.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Marsh's Edge in Saint Simons Island (3.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Senior Care Center - Brunswick in Brunswick (5.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in St. Simons?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 15% of the $7,898 monthly median income of St. Simons households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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. Simons

More senior care near St. Simons

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. Simons

More for St. Simons 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. Simons, GA