Dementia Care in Blue Earth, MN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Blue Earth, MN: the local picture

178

residents 85 or older (5.6% of all residents)

689

residents 65 or older (22% of Blue Earth)

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Faribault County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Blue Earth has about 178 residents aged 85 or older among 689 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.

31% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Faribault County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older Blue Earth 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.

Blue Earth compared with Faribault County and Minnesota

Census figure	Blue Earth	Faribault County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	5.6%	3.4%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	24%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	11%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.8%	5.2%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,696	$51,250	—

Older residents in towns around Blue Earth

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Fairmont, MN	18 mi	2,691	616
Lake Crystal, MN	33 mi	501	29
Forest City, IA	35 mi	756	102
St. James, MN	35 mi	712	183
Albert Lea, MN	37 mi	4,619	967
Mankato, MN	37 mi	5,772	979

Nursing homes near Blue Earth

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
St Lukes Lutheran Care Center	Blue Earth, MN	0.9 mi	5 of 5	64	(507) 526-2184
Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center	Fairmont, MN	19 mi	5 of 5	72	(507) 235-6606
Timely Mission Nursing Home	Buffalo Center, IA	19 mi	5 of 5	42	(641) 562-2494
Parkview Care Center	Wells, MN	20 mi	3 of 5	30	(507) 553-3115
Mapleton Community Home	Mapleton, MN	21 mi	5 of 5	59	(507) 524-3315
Truman Senior Living	Truman, MN	21 mi	5 of 5	30	(507) 776-2031

Hospices serving Blue Earth

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
United Hospital District Inc	Blue Earth, MN	0.4 mi	(507) 526-3273
Stch South Central MN Opco LLC	Mankato, MN	36 mi	(507) 735-6221
Mayo Clinic Hospice	Rochester, MN	86 mi	(507) 284-4002

Straight-line miles from the center of Blue Earth. 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 Blue Earth

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,558 monthly median income of Blue Earth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Blue Earth: common questions

What nursing homes are near Blue Earth?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are St Lukes Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth (0.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont (19 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center (19 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Blue Earth?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,558 monthly median income of Blue Earth households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Blue Earth

More senior care near Blue Earth

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Blue Earth

More for Blue Earth 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 Blue Earth, MN