Dementia Care in Waycross, GA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Waycross, GA: the local picture

355

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

2,423

residents 65 or older (18% of Waycross)

49%

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

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Waycross has about 355 residents aged 85 or older among 2,423 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.

49% of residents 65 and older report a disability (40% in Ware County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

45% of older Waycross 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.

Waycross compared with Ware County and Georgia

Census figure	Waycross	Ware County	Georgia
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.1%	1.4%
Residents 65 or older	18%	17%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	40%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	35%	26%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	27%	18%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.5%	5.1%	15%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,232	$39,008	—

Older residents in towns around Waycross

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Blackshear, GA	8.3 mi	727	43
Alma, GA	24 mi	714	75
Nicholls, GA	27 mi	263	3
Folkston, GA	33 mi	528	13
Douglas, GA	36 mi	1,671	133
Jesup, GA	38 mi	2,417	245

Nursing homes near Waycross

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Harborview Satilla	Waycross, GA	1.6 mi	1 of 5	174	(912) 283-1182
Waycross Health And Rehabilitation	Waycross, GA	1.6 mi	5 of 5	92	(912) 285-4721
Baptist Village, Inc.	Waycross, GA	2.8 mi	2 of 5	254	(912) 283-7050
Bayview Nursing Home	Nahunta, GA	21 mi	4 of 5	63	(912) 462-6044
Twin Oaks Convalescent Center	Alma, GA	24 mi	5 of 5	88	(912) 632-7293

Hospices serving Waycross

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Satilla Of Mem Hosp	Waycross, GA	0.9 mi	(912) 285-2340
Affinis Hospice	Waycross, GA	0.9 mi	(912) 590-0121
Hospice Of South Georgia, Inc.	Jesup, GA	39 mi	(912) 588-0080
Coastal Hospice Of Georgia	Brunswick, GA	49 mi	(912) 434-9810

Straight-line miles from the center of Waycross. 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 Waycross

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 54% of the $2,269 monthly median income of Waycross 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 Waycross: common questions

What nursing homes are near Waycross?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Harborview Satilla in Waycross (1.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Waycross Health And Rehabilitation in Waycross (1.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Baptist Village, Inc. in Waycross (2.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Waycross?

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 54% of the $2,269 monthly median income of Waycross 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 Waycross

More senior care near Waycross

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waycross

More for Waycross 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 Waycross, GA