Dementia Care in Cedar Falls, IA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Cedar Falls, IA: the local picture

1,010

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

6,557

residents 65 or older (16% of Cedar Falls)

28%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Cedar Falls has about 1,010 residents aged 85 or older among 6,557 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.

28% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Black Hawk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

31% of older Cedar Falls 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.

Cedar Falls compared with Black Hawk County and Iowa

Census figure	Cedar Falls	Black Hawk County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.0%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.0%	7.6%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.3%	8.8%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,904	$57,493	—

Older residents in towns around Cedar Falls

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Waterloo, IA	5.5 mi	11,387	1,233
Hudson, IA	5.8 mi	467	33
Evansdale, IA	10 mi	998	14
Waverly, IA	14 mi	1,954	315
Grundy Center, IA	20 mi	629	150
Jesup, IA	20 mi	368	81

Nursing homes near Cedar Falls

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Newaldaya Lifescapes	Cedar Falls, IA	0.5 mi	2 of 5	112	(319) 268-0401
Martin Health Center, Inc	Cedar Falls, IA	1.0 mi	5 of 5	50	(319) 277-2141
Cedar Falls Health Care Center	Cedar Falls, IA	1.1 mi	1 of 5	70	(319) 277-2437
The Suites At Western Home Communities	Cedar Falls, IA	2.1 mi	5 of 5	72	(319) 277-2141
Pinnacle Specialty Care	Cedar Falls, IA	2.3 mi	2 of 5	100	(319) 268-0489
Harmony House Health Care Center	Waterloo, IA	5.6 mi	1 of 5	65	(319) 234-4495

Hospices serving Cedar Falls

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	0.4 mi	(319) 232-6148
Cedar Valley Hospice	Waterloo, IA	5.3 mi	(319) 272-2002
Unitypoint Hospice	Waterloo, IA	6.5 mi	(319) 235-5027
St Croix Hospice	Charles City, IA	40 mi	(641) 394-2700

Straight-line miles from the center of Cedar Falls. 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 Cedar Falls

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,992 monthly median income of Cedar Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Cedar Falls: common questions

What nursing homes are near Cedar Falls?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Newaldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls (0.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Martin Health Center, Inc in Cedar Falls (1.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Cedar Falls Health Care Center in Cedar Falls (1.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Cedar Falls?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,992 monthly median income of Cedar Falls households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Cedar Falls

More senior care near Cedar Falls

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cedar Falls

More for Cedar Falls 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 Cedar Falls, IA