Dementia Care in Amherst, OH: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Amherst, OH: the local picture

368

residents 85 or older (2.9% of all residents)

2,780

residents 65 or older (22% of Amherst)

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Lorain County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Amherst has about 368 residents aged 85 or older among 2,780 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.

32% of residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Lorain County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

23% of older Amherst 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.

Amherst compared with Lorain County and Ohio

Census figure	Amherst	Lorain County	Ohio
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.3%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	32%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.6%	7.8%	8.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,365	$53,270	—

Older residents in towns around Amherst

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Lorain, OH	3.6 mi	11,520	1,229
Vermilion, OH	4.4 mi	2,664	367
Elyria, OH	6.8 mi	9,580	1,280
Sheffield, OH	8.0 mi	1,183	120
Oberlin, OH	8.3 mi	1,728	380
Sheffield Lake, OH	9.0 mi	1,819	98

Nursing homes near Amherst

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Amherst Manor Nursing Home	Amherst, OH	0.5 mi	2 of 5	114	(440) 988-4415
Oak Hills Nursing Center	Lorain, OH	2.3 mi	3 of 5	80	(440) 282-9171
Lake Pointe Health Care	Lorain, OH	2.4 mi	5 of 5	99	(440) 282-2244
Autumn Aegis Nursing Home	Lorain, OH	3.2 mi	4 of 5	99	(440) 282-6768
Anchor Lodge Nursing Home Inc	Lorain, OH	3.3 mi	3 of 5	110	(440) 244-2019
Kingston Health Center Of Vermilion	Vermilion, OH	5.6 mi	5 of 5	120	(440) 967-1800

Hospices serving Amherst

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Wellspring Hospice	Lorain, OH	2.3 mi	(330) 486-6092
Mercy Health-New Life Hospice	Lorain, OH	2.3 mi	(440) 960-4555
Nivalis Hospice	Westlake, OH	16 mi	(440) 462-2600
Compassus - Greater Ohio	Seven Hills, OH	30 mi	(440) 899-7659

Straight-line miles from the center of Amherst. 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 Amherst

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,780 monthly median income of Amherst households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Amherst: common questions

What nursing homes are near Amherst?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Amherst Manor Nursing Home in Amherst (0.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Oak Hills Nursing Center in Lorain (2.3 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Lake Pointe Health Care in Lorain (2.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Amherst?

At the Ohio median aide wage of $16.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,436 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,780 monthly median income of Amherst households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Ohio's minimum wage is $11.00 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 Amherst

More senior care near Amherst

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Amherst

More for Amherst 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 Amherst, OH