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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Charleston, MO: the local picture

19

residents 85 or older (0.4% of all residents)

656

residents 65 or older (15% of Charleston)

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (53% in Mississippi County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Charleston has about 19 residents aged 85 or older among 656 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 (53% in Mississippi County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

38% of older Charleston 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.

Charleston compared with Mississippi County and Missouri

Census figure	Charleston	Mississippi County	Missouri
Residents 85 or older	0.4%	1.3%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	15%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	53%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	39%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	9.7%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.5%	1.1%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,458	$40,000	—

Older residents in towns around Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
East Prairie, MO	9.9 mi	563	29
Sikeston, MO	14 mi	3,549	377
Scott City, MO	24 mi	562	37
Chaffee, MO	26 mi	540	126
New Madrid, MO	26 mi	560	110
Cape Girardeau, MO	30 mi	7,947	1,053

Nursing homes near Charleston

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bertrand Nursing And Rehab Center	Bertrand, MO	6.9 mi	5 of 5	60	(573) 683-4290
Aspire Senior Living East Prairie	East Prairie, MO	9.6 mi	3 of 5	52	(573) 649-3551
Daybreak Nursing Center	Sikeston, MO	12 mi	4 of 5	70	(573) 471-7683
Delta South Nursing & Rehabilitation	Sikeston, MO	13 mi	4 of 5	60	(573) 471-3400
Sikeston Convalescent Center	Sikeston, MO	14 mi	3 of 5	120	(573) 471-6900
Annie's Garden Skilled Nursing	Sikeston, MO	15 mi	not rated	75	(573) 621-4910

Hospices serving Charleston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Elite Hospice	Sikeston, MO	14 mi	(573) 472-6163
Crown Hospice, Inc	Cape Girardeau, MO	29 mi	(573) 335-4800
Saint Francis Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	29 mi	(573) 331-5180
Mercy Hospice	Cape Girardeau, MO	30 mi	(573) 335-6208

Straight-line miles from the center of Charleston. 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 Charleston

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 45% of the $3,038 monthly median income of Charleston 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 Charleston: common questions

What nursing homes are near Charleston?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Bertrand Nursing And Rehab Center in Bertrand (6.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Aspire Senior Living East Prairie in East Prairie (9.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Daybreak Nursing Center in Sikeston (12 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Charleston?

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 45% of the $3,038 monthly median income of Charleston 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 Charleston

More senior care near Charleston

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Charleston

More for Charleston 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 Charleston, MO