In-Home Dementia Care in Baxter Springs, KS

Local figures

Dementia Care in Baxter Springs, KS: the local picture

39

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

636

residents 65 or older (16% of Baxter Springs)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Cherokee County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Baxter Springs has about 39 residents aged 85 or older among 636 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.

37% of residents 65 and older report a disability (37% in Cherokee County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Baxter Springs 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.

Baxter Springs compared with Cherokee County and Kansas

Census figure	Baxter Springs	Cherokee County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	37%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	29%	15%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.1%	2.1%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$24,242	$41,494	—

Older residents in towns around Baxter Springs

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Galena, KS	6.7 mi	480	27
Miami, OK	12 mi	1,945	214
Columbus, KS	12 mi	596	117
Joplin, MO	13 mi	10,195	1,215
Carl Junction, MO	15 mi	1,201	153
Webb City, MO	17 mi	1,788	186

Nursing homes near Baxter Springs

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Quaker Hill Manor	Baxter Springs, KS	2.9 mi	4 of 5	53	(620) 848-3797
Higher Call Nursing Center	Quapaw, OK	5.3 mi	1 of 5	86	(918) 674-2233
Galena Nursing & Rehab Center	Galena, KS	7.0 mi	2 of 5	45	(620) 783-1383
Communities Of Wildwood Ranch	Joplin, MO	8.6 mi	4 of 5	120	(417) 621-0175
Westgate	Joplin, MO	8.6 mi	2 of 5	120	(417) 553-3688
Eastwood Manor	Commerce, OK	9.6 mi	1 of 5	80	(918) 675-4455

Hospices serving Baxter Springs

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus-Joplin	Joplin, MO	13 mi	(417) 623-8272
Hospice Compassus-Southeast Kansas	Pittsburg, KS	26 mi	(620) 232-9898
Gentiva	Pittsburg, KS	26 mi	(620) 231-8000
Three Rivers Hospice West	Mount Vernon, MO	52 mi	(417) 461-0580

Straight-line miles from the center of Baxter Springs. 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 Baxter Springs

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 64% of the $2,020 monthly median income of Baxter Springs households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Baxter Springs: common questions

What nursing homes are near Baxter Springs?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Quaker Hill Manor in Baxter Springs (2.9 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Higher Call Nursing Center in Quapaw (5.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Galena Nursing & Rehab Center in Galena (7.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Baxter Springs?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 64% of the $2,020 monthly median income of Baxter Springs households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Baxter Springs

More senior care near Baxter Springs

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Baxter Springs

More for Baxter Springs 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 Baxter Springs, KS