Dementia Care in Altoona, PA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Altoona, PA: the local picture

903

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

7,715

residents 65 or older (18% of Altoona)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Blair County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Altoona has about 903 residents aged 85 or older among 7,715 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.

34% of residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Blair County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older Altoona 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.

Altoona compared with Blair County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Altoona	Blair County	Pennsylvania
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	2.8%	2.4%
Residents 65 or older	18%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	35%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.6%	3.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,233	$44,599	—

Older residents in towns around Altoona

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Greenwood, PA	3.2 mi	612	9
Hollidaysburg, PA	5.3 mi	1,334	237
Penn Farms, PA	6.4 mi	374	39
Tyrone, PA	14 mi	1,094	132
Ebensburg, PA	17 mi	842	177
Huntingdon, PA	21 mi	1,335	171

Nursing homes near Altoona

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Midtown Oaks Health & Rehab Center	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	1 of 5	120	(814) 946-2700
Hilltop Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Altoona, PA	1.3 mi	2 of 5	133	(814) 946-0471
Maybrook Hills Rehabilitation And Healthcare Cente	Altoona, PA	1.4 mi	2 of 5	240	(814) 944-0845
Garvey Manor	Hollidaysburg, PA	4.1 mi	4 of 5	132	(814) 695-5571
Hollidaysburg Veterans Home	Hollidaysburg, PA	5.0 mi	2 of 5	257	(814) 696-5356
Lutheran Home At Hollidaysburg	Hollidaysburg, PA	5.1 mi	2 of 5	89	(814) 696-4527

Hospices serving Altoona

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva Ii	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	(814) 944-9724
Adoration Hospice	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	(814) 381-0100
Aseracare Hospice	Altoona, PA	0.6 mi	(814) 941-2900
Family Hospice	Altoona, PA	1.0 mi	(814) 946-5411

Straight-line miles from the center of Altoona. 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 Altoona

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,186 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Altoona: common questions

What nursing homes are near Altoona?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Midtown Oaks Health & Rehab Center in Altoona (0.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Hilltop Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Altoona (1.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Maybrook Hills Rehabilitation And Healthcare Cente in Altoona (1.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Altoona?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,186 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Altoona

More senior care near Altoona

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Altoona

More for Altoona 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 Altoona, PA