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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Brookings, SD: the local picture

282

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

2,888

residents 65 or older (12% of Brookings)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Brookings County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Brookings has about 282 residents aged 85 or older among 2,888 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 (29% in Brookings County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older Brookings 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.

Brookings compared with Brookings County and South Dakota

Census figure	Brookings	Brookings County	South Dakota
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	11%	9.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,482	$57,114	—

Older residents in towns around Brookings

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Madison, SD	26 mi	1,384	308
Pipestone, MN	32 mi	812	154
Dell Rapids, SD	33 mi	703	65
Watertown, SD	46 mi	4,553	615
Hartford, SD	48 mi	614	20
Brandon, SD	50 mi	1,627	228

Nursing homes near Brookings

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
United Living Community	Brookings, SD	0.9 mi	2 of 5	67	(605) 692-5351
The Neighborhoods At Brookview	Brookings, SD	1.2 mi	5 of 5	79	(605) 696-8700
Riverview Healthcare Center	Flandreau, SD	20 mi	1 of 5	63	(605) 997-2481
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Care Center	Flandreau, SD	20 mi	3 of 5	42	(605) 573-2100
Hendricks Community Hospital	Hendricks, MN	23 mi	1 of 5	52	(507) 275-3134
Estelline Nursing And Care Center	Estelline, SD	24 mi	4 of 5	60	(605) 873-2278

Hospices serving Brookings

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Brookings Health System	Brookings, SD	0.3 mi	(605) 696-7700
Prairie Lakes Hospice	Watertown, SD	45 mi	(605) 882-7745
Avera @ Home	Sioux Falls, SD	53 mi	(605) 322-7705
Aseracare Hospice	Sioux Falls, SD	54 mi	(605) 338-2066

Straight-line miles from the center of Brookings. 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 Brookings

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 35% of the $4,457 monthly median income of Brookings 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 Brookings: common questions

What nursing homes are near Brookings?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are United Living Community in Brookings (0.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); The Neighborhoods At Brookview in Brookings (1.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau (20 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Brookings?

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 35% of the $4,457 monthly median income of Brookings 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 Brookings

More senior care near Brookings

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Brookings

More for Brookings 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 Brookings, SD