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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Athens, OH: the local picture

285

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

1,476

residents 65 or older (6.3% of Athens)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (39% in Athens County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Athens has about 285 residents aged 85 or older among 1,476 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.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability (39% in Athens County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Athens 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.

Athens compared with Athens County and Ohio

Census figure	Athens	Athens County	Ohio
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.6%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	6.3%	15%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	39%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.0%	9.9%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.8%	5.8%	8.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,571	$54,034	—

Older residents in towns around Athens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
The Plains, OH	3.2 mi	1,010	138
Nelsonville, OH	11 mi	466	18
Logan, OH	22 mi	1,183	149
Blennerhassett, WV	26 mi	807	71
Belpre, OH	27 mi	1,628	205
Wellston, OH	28 mi	974	124

Nursing homes near Athens

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Laurels Of Athens, The	Athens, OH	1.3 mi	2 of 5	111	(740) 592-1000
Kimes Nursing And Rehab LLC	Athens, OH	1.9 mi	1 of 5	61	(740) 593-3391
Hickory Creek Of Athens	The Plains, OH	2.8 mi	4 of 5	90	(740) 797-4561
Arbors At Pomeroy	Pomeroy, OH	17 mi	3 of 5	91	(740) 992-6606
Arcadia Valley Skilled Nursing And Rehabilitation	Coolville, OH	17 mi	2 of 5	50	(740) 667-3156
Maple Hills Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation	Mcarthur, OH	20 mi	3 of 5	42	(740) 596-5955

Hospices serving Athens

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Kimes LLC	Athens, OH	0.6 mi	(740) 593-3391
Homereach Hospice	Athens, OH	0.6 mi	(740) 331-7040
Marietta Home Health & Hospice,An Amedisys Partner	Marietta, OH	35 mi	(740) 374-9100
Holzer Medical Center Hospice	Gallipolis, OH	36 mi	(740) 446-5074

Straight-line miles from the center of Athens. 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 Athens

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 $4,714 monthly median income of Athens 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 Athens: common questions

What nursing homes are near Athens?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Laurels Of Athens, The in Athens (1.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Kimes Nursing And Rehab LLC in Athens (1.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Hickory Creek Of Athens in The Plains (2.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Athens?

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 $4,714 monthly median income of Athens 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 Athens

More senior care near Athens

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Athens

More for Athens 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 Athens, OH