Dementia Care in Belle Fourche, SD: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Belle Fourche, SD: the local picture

149

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

1,117

residents 65 or older (19% of Belle Fourche)

44%

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

3

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Belle Fourche has about 149 residents aged 85 or older among 1,117 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.

44% of residents 65 and older report a disability (39% in Butte County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older Belle Fourche 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.

Belle Fourche compared with Butte County and South Dakota

Census figure	Belle Fourche	Butte County	South Dakota
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	39%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.7%	2.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,338	$44,401	—

Older residents in towns around Belle Fourche

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Spearfish, SD	12 mi	2,676	421
Lead, SD	22 mi	818	102
Sturgis, SD	25 mi	1,375	187
Summerset, SD	41 mi	248	29
Blackhawk, SD	44 mi	550	26
Rapid City, SD	52 mi	16,108	2,099

Nursing homes near Belle Fourche

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rolling Hills Healthcare	Belle Fourche, SD	1.3 mi	1 of 5	83	(605) 892-3331
Spearfish Canyon Healthcare	Spearfish, SD	12 mi	2 of 5	105	(605) 642-2716
Monument Health Sturgis Care Center	Sturgis, SD	25 mi	3 of 5	40	(605) 720-2400

Hospices serving Belle Fourche

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Home Health & Hospice LLC	Belle Fourche, SD	1.1 mi	(605) 723-4663
Monument Health Home Plus Hospice	Spearfish, SD	12 mi	(605) 644-4444
Stillwater Hospice Of South Dakota	Rapid City, SD	52 mi	(605) 745-4967
Avera @ Home	Mitchell, SD	296 mi	(605) 995-2268

Straight-line miles from the center of Belle Fourche. 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 Belle Fourche

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $3,612 monthly median income of Belle Fourche households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Belle Fourche: common questions

What nursing homes are near Belle Fourche?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Rolling Hills Healthcare in Belle Fourche (1.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Spearfish Canyon Healthcare in Spearfish (12 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Monument Health Sturgis Care Center in Sturgis (25 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Belle Fourche?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 44% of the $3,612 monthly median income of Belle Fourche households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Belle Fourche

More senior care near Belle Fourche

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 Belle Fourche, SD