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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Cresco, IA: the local picture

99

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

828

residents 65 or older (21% of Cresco)

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (22% in Howard County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Cresco has about 99 residents aged 85 or older among 828 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.

21% of residents 65 and older report a disability (22% in Howard County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

22% of older Cresco 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.

Cresco compared with Howard County and Iowa

Census figure	Cresco	Howard County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.7%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	21%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	22%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	24%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	7.2%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.3%	9.6%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,000	$49,200	—

Older residents in towns around Cresco

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Decorah, IA	17 mi	1,807	266
New Hampton, IA	24 mi	695	107
Chatfield, MN	33 mi	453	111
Waukon, IA	33 mi	1,054	188
Postville, IA	34 mi	310	57
Charles City, IA	35 mi	1,702	388

Nursing homes near Cresco

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Evans Senior Living Community	Cresco, IA	0.8 mi	5 of 5	43	(563) 547-2364
Gundersen Harmony Care Center	Harmony, MN	13 mi	5 of 5	42	(507) 886-6544
Green Lea Senior Living	Mabel, MN	16 mi	1 of 5	41	(507) 450-5738
The Highlands	Decorah, IA	17 mi	2 of 5	86	(563) 382-3603
Colonial Manor Of Elma	Elma, IA	19 mi	2 of 5	40	(641) 393-2134
Wellington Place	Decorah, IA	19 mi	4 of 5	56	(563) 382-9691

Hospices serving Cresco

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Howard County Community Hospice	Cresco, IA	0.8 mi	(563) 547-2989
Winnmed Hospice	Decorah, IA	17 mi	(563) 387-3024
St Croix Hospice	Charles City, IA	35 mi	(641) 394-2700
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	56 mi	(563) 933-2070

Straight-line miles from the center of Cresco. 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 Cresco

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 38% of the $4,000 monthly median income of Cresco 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 Cresco: common questions

What nursing homes are near Cresco?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Evans Senior Living Community in Cresco (0.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Gundersen Harmony Care Center in Harmony (13 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Green Lea Senior Living in Mabel (16 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Cresco?

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 38% of the $4,000 monthly median income of Cresco 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 Cresco

More senior care near Cresco

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cresco

More for Cresco 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 Cresco, IA