Dementia Care in Sunset Beach, NC: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Sunset Beach, NC: the local picture

77

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

2,599

residents 65 or older (60% of Sunset Beach)

24%

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

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Sunset Beach has about 77 residents aged 85 or older among 2,599 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.

24% 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.

27% of older Sunset Beach 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.

Sunset Beach compared with Brunswick County and North Carolina

Census figure	Sunset Beach	Brunswick County	North Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	60%	34%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	20%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.6%	5.7%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.3%	5.0%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,086	$69,925	—

Older residents in towns around Sunset Beach

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Carolina Shores, NC	3.9 mi	2,554	222
Little River, SC	7.7 mi	4,972	220
Shallotte, NC	9.4 mi	1,100	137
North Myrtle Beach, SC	12 mi	8,266	659
Oak Island, NC	22 mi	3,796	147
St. James, NC	24 mi	4,439	108

Nursing homes near Sunset Beach

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Autumn Care Of Shallotte	Shallotte, NC	9.0 mi	2 of 5	100	(910) 754-8858
Brunswick Health & Rehab Center	Ash, NC	11 mi	1 of 5	100	(910) 287-6007
Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center	Bolivia, NC	18 mi	1 of 5	90	(910) 755-5955
Myrtle Beach Manor	Myrtle Beach, SC	19 mi	3 of 5	60	(843) 449-5283
Brightwater Skilled Nursing Center	Myrtle Beach, SC	21 mi	4 of 5	67	(843) 903-8300

Hospices serving Sunset Beach

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare	Myrtle Beach, SC	19 mi	(843) 848-6480
Lower Cape Fear Lifecare	Wilmington, NC	40 mi	(910) 796-7900
Liberty Home Care And Hospice	Wilmington, NC	42 mi	(910) 251-8111
Amedisys Hospice Care	Pembroke, NC	67 mi	(855) 809-0997

Straight-line miles from the center of Sunset Beach. 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 Sunset Beach

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 22% of the $5,924 monthly median income of Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach: common questions

What nursing homes are near Sunset Beach?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Autumn Care Of Shallotte in Shallotte (9.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Brunswick Health & Rehab Center in Ash (11 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Bolivia Rehabilitation And Healthcare Center in Bolivia (18 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Sunset Beach?

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 22% of the $5,924 monthly median income of Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach

More senior care near Sunset Beach

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sunset Beach

More for Sunset Beach 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 Sunset Beach, NC