Dementia Care in Chester, IL: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Chester, IL: the local picture

150

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

1,019

residents 65 or older (15% of Chester)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (42% in Randolph County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Chester has about 150 residents aged 85 or older among 1,019 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.

34% of residents 65 and older report a disability (42% in Randolph County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

29% of older Chester 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.

Chester compared with Randolph County and Illinois

Census figure	Chester	Randolph County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.5%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	15%	21%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	42%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	8.8%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.8%	3.1%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,614	$52,235	—

Older residents in towns around Chester

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Ste. Genevieve, MO	13 mi	1,326	291
Perryville, MO	14 mi	1,370	161
Sparta, IL	16 mi	1,035	83
Red Bud, IL	22 mi	798	117
Murphysboro, IL	29 mi	1,462	203
Pinckneyville, IL	29 mi	807	54

Nursing homes near Chester

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Three Springs Sr Living & Rhab	Chester, IL	0.6 mi	2 of 5	83	(618) 826-3210
St Genevieve Nursing	Sainte Genevieve, MO	13 mi	5 of 5	90	(573) 883-5725
Independence Care Center Of Perry County	Perryville, MO	13 mi	3 of 5	133	(573) 547-6546
Riverview At The Park Care And Rehabilitation Cent	Sainte Genevieve, MO	13 mi	4 of 5	120	(573) 883-3454
Estates Of Perryville, LLC, The	Perryville, MO	14 mi	1 of 5	156	(573) 547-1011
Randolph County Care Center	Sparta, IL	15 mi	1 of 5	100	(618) 443-4351

Hospices serving Chester

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Maple Creek Hospice Inc	Sparta, IL	16 mi	(618) 443-4671
Hospice Of Southern Illinois, Inc	Belleville, IL	41 mi	(618) 235-1703
Breeze Hospice	Shiloh, IL	43 mi	(618) 416-6410
Family Hospice Of Belleville Area	Belleville, IL	43 mi	(618) 277-1800

Straight-line miles from the center of Chester. 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 Chester

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,051 monthly median income of Chester households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 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 Chester: common questions

What nursing homes are near Chester?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Three Springs Sr Living & Rhab in Chester (0.6 mi, 2 of 5 overall); St Genevieve Nursing in Sainte Genevieve (13 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Independence Care Center Of Perry County in Perryville (13 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Chester?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,051 monthly median income of Chester households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois'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 Chester

More senior care near Chester

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Chester

More for Chester 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 Chester, IL