Dementia Care in Chaffee, MO: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Chaffee, MO: the local picture

126

residents 85 or older (4.2% of all residents)

540

residents 65 or older (18% of Chaffee)

48%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Chaffee has about 126 residents aged 85 or older among 540 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.

48% of residents 65 and older report a disability (39% in Scott County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

59% of older Chaffee 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.

Chaffee compared with Scott County and Missouri

Census figure	Chaffee	Scott County	Missouri
Residents 85 or older	4.2%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	39%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	59%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.7%	12%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.0%	2.2%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,847	$48,924	—

Older residents in towns around Chaffee

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Scott City, MO	7.4 mi	562	37
Cape Girardeau, MO	11 mi	7,947	1,053
Jackson, MO	14 mi	2,688	318
Sikeston, MO	21 mi	3,549	377
Charleston, MO	26 mi	656	19
Anna, IL	30 mi	999	108

Nursing homes near Chaffee

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Chaffee Nursing Center	Chaffee, MO	0.6 mi	5 of 5	71	(573) 887-3615
Lutheran Home, The	Cape Girardeau, MO	9.5 mi	5 of 5	274	(573) 335-0158
Life Care Center Of Cape Girardeau	Cape Girardeau, MO	10 mi	1 of 5	120	(573) 335-2086
Chateau Girardeau	Cape Girardeau, MO	10 mi	3 of 5	75	(573) 335-1281
Fountainbleau Lodge	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	5 of 5	33	(573) 335-1999
Ratliff Care Center	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	3 of 5	46	(573) 335-5810

Hospices serving Chaffee

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mercy Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	11 mi	(573) 335-6208
Providence Home Health & Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	(573) 334-1515
Crown Hospice, Inc	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	(573) 335-4800
Saint Francis Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	12 mi	(573) 331-5180

Straight-line miles from the center of Chaffee. 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 Chaffee

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 59% of the $2,321 monthly median income of Chaffee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Chaffee: common questions

What nursing homes are near Chaffee?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee (0.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Lutheran Home, The in Cape Girardeau (9.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Life Care Center Of Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau (10 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Chaffee?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 59% of the $2,321 monthly median income of Chaffee households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Chaffee

More senior care near Chaffee

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Chaffee

More for Chaffee 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 Chaffee, MO