Dementia Care in Ames, IA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Ames, IA: the local picture

1,000

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

7,494

residents 65 or older (11% of Ames)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Story County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Ames has about 1,000 residents aged 85 or older among 7,494 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.

27% of residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Story County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

31% of older Ames 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.

Ames compared with Story County and Iowa

Census figure	Ames	Story County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	11%	13%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.5%	5.6%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	11%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,689	$69,964	—

Older residents in towns around Ames

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Nevada, IA	7.8 mi	1,242	151
Huxley, IA	9.1 mi	525	29
Story City, IA	11 mi	722	186
Boone, IA	13 mi	2,272	257
Madrid, IA	15 mi	566	146
Polk City, IA	18 mi	874	29

Nursing homes near Ames

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Ames, LLC	Ames, IA	2.0 mi	3 of 5	75	(515) 232-3426
Green Hills Health Care Center	Ames, IA	2.0 mi	5 of 5	56	(515) 296-5000
Northridge Village	Ames, IA	2.8 mi	5 of 5	38	(515) 232-1000
Rolling Green Village Care Center	Nevada, IA	8.7 mi	3 of 5	58	(515) 382-6556
Story Medical Senior Care	Nevada, IA	9.7 mi	5 of 5	60	(515) 382-2111
Bethany Life	Story City, IA	11 mi	2 of 5	126	(515) 733-4325

Hospices serving Ames

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice (West Des Moines)	Ames, IA	1.3 mi	(515) 346-3321
Mary Greeley Hospice Services	Ames, IA	4.1 mi	(515) 239-2011
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	21 mi	(515) 276-2700
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	28 mi	(515) 271-6777

Straight-line miles from the center of Ames. 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 Ames

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Ames: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ames?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Accura Healthcare Of Ames, LLC in Ames (2.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames (2.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Northridge Village in Ames (2.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Ames?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Ames

More senior care near Ames

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ames

More for Ames 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 Ames, IA