Dementia Care in Water Valley, MS: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Water Valley, MS: the local picture

64

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

637

residents 65 or older (19% of Water Valley)

26%

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

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Water Valley has about 64 residents aged 85 or older among 637 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.

26% of residents 65 and older report a disability (40% in Yalobusha County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Water Valley 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.

Water Valley compared with Yalobusha County and Mississippi

Census figure	Water Valley	Yalobusha County	Mississippi
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.5%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	19%	22%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	40%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	14%	15%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.4%	2.4%	4.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,908	$41,181	—

Older residents in towns around Water Valley

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Oxford, MS	14 mi	3,682	502
University, MS	15 mi	0	0
Batesville, MS	20 mi	1,114	278
Grenada, MS	28 mi	2,176	384
Pontotoc, MS	36 mi	990	107
Senatobia, MS	37 mi	1,295	122

Nursing homes near Water Valley

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Yalobusha County Nursing Home	Water Valley, MS	2.2 mi	3 of 5	122	(662) 473-1411
Oxford Health & Rehab Center	Oxford, MS	14 mi	1 of 5	120	(662) 234-7821
Bruce Community Living Center	Bruce, MS	19 mi	4 of 5	35	(662) 412-5100
Diversicare Of Batesville	Batesville, MS	20 mi	2 of 5	130	(662) 563-5636
Sardis Community NH	Sardis, MS	24 mi	2 of 5	60	(662) 487-2720

Hospices serving Water Valley

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Arden Of North Mississippi (Oxford)	Oxford, MS	14 mi	(662) 636-7001
Enhabit Hospice Of North Mississippi	Oxford, MS	14 mi	(662) 238-7771
Gentiva	Oxford, MS	14 mi	(662) 578-4072
Baptist Home Care & Hospice-North Mississippi	Batesville, MS	21 mi	(662) 267-3448

Straight-line miles from the center of Water Valley. 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 Water Valley

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,076 monthly median income of Water Valley households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Water Valley: common questions

What nursing homes are near Water Valley?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Yalobusha County Nursing Home in Water Valley (2.2 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Oxford Health & Rehab Center in Oxford (14 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Bruce Community Living Center in Bruce (19 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Water Valley?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $3,076 monthly median income of Water Valley households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (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 Water Valley

More senior care near Water Valley

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Water Valley

More for Water Valley 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 Water Valley, MS