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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wiggins, MS: the local picture

72

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

598

residents 65 or older (14% of Wiggins)

57%

of residents 65+ report a disability (50% in Stone County)

4

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wiggins has about 72 residents aged 85 or older among 598 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.

57% of residents 65 and older report a disability (50% in Stone County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

44% of older Wiggins 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.

Wiggins compared with Stone County and Mississippi

Census figure	Wiggins	Stone County	Mississippi
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.1%	1.7%
Residents 65 or older	14%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	57%	50%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	23%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	11%	15%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.3%	1.4%	4.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,679	$49,049	—

Older residents in towns around Wiggins

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Poplarville, MS	23 mi	332	21
Gulfport, MS	30 mi	11,916	1,589
Latimer, MS	31 mi	1,043	109
D'Iberville, MS	32 mi	1,769	319
Biloxi, MS	32 mi	7,920	682
Lucedale, MS	33 mi	400	68

Nursing homes near Wiggins

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Azalea Gardens Nursing Center	Wiggins, MS	0.3 mi	4 of 5	99	(601) 928-5281
Stone County Rehabilitation And Nursing Ctr Inc	Wiggins, MS	1.5 mi	3 of 5	59	(601) 928-1889
Lamar Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Lumberton, MS	23 mi	1 of 5	120	(601) 794-8566
Pearl River Co Nursing Home	Poplarville, MS	24 mi	5 of 5	105	(601) 795-4543

Hospices serving Wiggins

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Vitalcaring Group	Wiggins, MS	0.5 mi	(601) 799-2088
Arden Of South Mississippi LLC	Poplarville, MS	25 mi	(601) 403-9822
Deaconess Hospice	Biloxi, MS	26 mi	(228) 435-2265
Southern Care Inc Dba Gentiva	Biloxi, MS	26 mi	(228) 396-4756

Straight-line miles from the center of Wiggins. 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 Wiggins

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 27% of the $3,640 monthly median income of Wiggins 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 Wiggins: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wiggins?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Azalea Gardens Nursing Center in Wiggins (0.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Stone County Rehabilitation And Nursing Ctr Inc in Wiggins (1.5 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Lamar Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Lumberton (23 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wiggins?

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 27% of the $3,640 monthly median income of Wiggins 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 Wiggins

More senior care near Wiggins

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wiggins

More for Wiggins 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 Wiggins, MS