Dementia Care in Albert Lea, MN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Albert Lea, MN: the local picture

967

residents 85 or older (5.3% of all residents)

4,619

residents 65 or older (25% of Albert Lea)

30%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Albert Lea has about 967 residents aged 85 or older among 4,619 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.

30% of residents 65 and older report a disability (29% in Freeborn County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older Albert Lea 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.

Albert Lea compared with Freeborn County and Minnesota

Census figure	Albert Lea	Freeborn County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	5.3%	3.8%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	25%	23%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	29%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	6.8%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	11%	8.6%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,241	$49,381	—

Older residents in towns around Albert Lea

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Austin, MN	19 mi	4,489	697
Waseca, MN	30 mi	1,516	255
Forest City, IA	31 mi	756	102
Owatonna, MN	31 mi	5,174	770
Clear Lake, IA	36 mi	2,089	284
Mason City, IA	36 mi	6,215	830

Nursing homes near Albert Lea

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Thorne Crest Retirement Center	Albert Lea, MN	0.6 mi	1 of 5	52	(507) 205-9004
St Johns On Fountain Lake	Albert Lea, MN	1.8 mi	3 of 5	84	(507) 373-2040
Good Samaritan Society - Albert Lea	Albert Lea, MN	3.3 mi	4 of 5	80	(507) 379-2701
Lutheran Retirement Home	Northwood, IA	16 mi	3 of 5	42	(641) 324-1712
New Richland Care Center	New Richland, MN	18 mi	1 of 5	45	(507) 465-3292
Lake Mills Care Center	Lake Mills, IA	18 mi	4 of 5	61	(641) 592-4900

Hospices serving Albert Lea

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice	Albert Lea, MN	0.3 mi	(507) 416-4247
Prairie Grace Hospice, LLC	Mankato, MN	47 mi	(507) 821-0430
Moments Hospice	Rochester, MN	50 mi	(507) 888-9700
Mayo Clinic Hospice	Rochester, MN	52 mi	(507) 284-4002

Straight-line miles from the center of Albert Lea. 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 Albert Lea

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Albert Lea: common questions

What nursing homes are near Albert Lea?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Thorne Crest Retirement Center in Albert Lea (0.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); St Johns On Fountain Lake in Albert Lea (1.8 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Good Samaritan Society - Albert Lea in Albert Lea (3.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Albert Lea?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Albert Lea

More senior care near Albert Lea

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Albert Lea

More for Albert Lea 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 Albert Lea, MN