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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Columbia, IL: the local picture

297

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

1,839

residents 65 or older (17% of Columbia)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Monroe County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Columbia has about 297 residents aged 85 or older among 1,839 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.

27% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Monroe County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

28% of older Columbia 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.

Columbia compared with Monroe County and Illinois

Census figure	Columbia	Monroe County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.4%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	28%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.9%	8.3%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.9%	2.1%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,722	$63,522	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Dupo, IL	4.0 mi	576	9
Oakville, MO	5.6 mi	7,845	907
Mehlville, MO	6.1 mi	6,316	791
Lemay, MO	6.4 mi	2,439	321
Millstadt, IL	7.0 mi	1,072	79
Green Park, MO	8.0 mi	595	72

Nursing homes near Columbia

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nexus At Columbia	Columbia, IL	1.0 mi	1 of 5	119	(618) 281-6800
Bethesda Southgate	Saint Louis, MO	4.9 mi	5 of 5	130	(314) 846-2000
Nazareth Living Center	Saint Louis, MO	6.0 mi	1 of 5	121	(314) 487-3950
Lemay Nursing	Saint Louis, MO	6.1 mi	2 of 5	60	(314) 631-0540
Sherbrooke Village	Saint Louis, MO	7.1 mi	2 of 5	149	(314) 544-1111
Bria Of Cahokia	Cahokia, IL	7.4 mi	1 of 5	133	(618) 337-9400

Hospices serving Columbia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Unity Hospice Gsl, LLC	Saint Louis, MO	11 mi	(314) 645-8648
Family Hospice Of Belleville Area	Belleville, IL	13 mi	(618) 277-1800
Hospice Of Southern Illinois, Inc	Belleville, IL	13 mi	(618) 235-1703
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Midwest	Fairview Heights, IL	15 mi	(618) 622-9073

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbia. 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 Columbia

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 32% of the $4,977 monthly median income of Columbia 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 Columbia: common questions

What nursing homes are near Columbia?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Nexus At Columbia in Columbia (1.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Bethesda Southgate in Saint Louis (4.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Nazareth Living Center in Saint Louis (6.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Columbia?

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 32% of the $4,977 monthly median income of Columbia 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 Columbia

More senior care near Columbia

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Columbia

More for Columbia 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 Columbia, IL