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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Decorah, IA: the local picture

266

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

1,807

residents 65 or older (24% of Decorah)

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Winneshiek County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Decorah has about 266 residents aged 85 or older among 1,807 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.

22% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Winneshiek County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Decorah 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.

Decorah compared with Winneshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.8%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.7%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.2%	4.6%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,453	$59,525	—

Older residents in towns around Decorah

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Waukon, IA	16 mi	1,054	188
Cresco, IA	17 mi	828	99
Postville, IA	19 mi	310	57
Caledonia, MN	27 mi	618	61
New Hampton, IA	32 mi	695	107
Prairie du Chien, WI	37 mi	1,374	226

Nursing homes near Decorah

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Highlands	Decorah, IA	1.6 mi	2 of 5	86	(563) 382-3603
Wellington Place	Decorah, IA	2.1 mi	4 of 5	56	(563) 382-9691
Ossian Care Center	Ossian, IA	11 mi	2 of 5	46	(563) 532-9440
Green Lea Senior Living	Mabel, MN	15 mi	1 of 5	41	(507) 450-5738
Northgate Care Center	Waukon, IA	15 mi	1 of 5	50	(563) 568-3493
Good Samaritan - Waukon	Waukon, IA	16 mi	2 of 5	60	(563) 568-3447

Hospices serving Decorah

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Winnmed Hospice	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	(563) 387-3024
Howard County Community Hospice	Cresco, IA	18 mi	(563) 547-2989
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp And Clinics-Hospice	West Union, IA	25 mi	(563) 422-6267
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	45 mi	(563) 933-2070

Straight-line miles from the center of Decorah. 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 Decorah

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 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah 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 Decorah: common questions

What nursing homes are near Decorah?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Highlands in Decorah (1.6 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Wellington Place in Decorah (2.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Ossian Care Center in Ossian (11 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Decorah?

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 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah 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 Decorah

More senior care near Decorah

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Decorah

More for Decorah 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 Decorah, IA