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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Denison, IA: the local picture

189

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

1,109

residents 65 or older (13% of Denison)

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Crawford County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Denison has about 189 residents aged 85 or older among 1,109 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.

42% of residents 65 and older report a disability (37% in Crawford County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Denison 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.

Denison compared with Crawford County and Iowa

Census figure	Denison	Crawford County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.3%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	13%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	37%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	31%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	44%	27%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$34,886	$48,444	—

Older residents in towns around Denison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Carroll, IA	25 mi	2,456	466
Harlan, IA	25 mi	1,170	286
Onawa, IA	38 mi	609	146
Missouri Valley, IA	42 mi	529	125
Storm Lake, IA	44 mi	1,432	295
Atlantic, IA	46 mi	1,632	242

Nursing homes near Denison

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Gracewell, An Eventide Community	Denison, IA	0.4 mi	5 of 5	84	(712) 263-3114
Denison Care Center	Denison, IA	1.4 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 263-5611
Dunlap Specialty Care	Dunlap, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 643-2121
Odebolt Specialty Care	Odebolt, IA	21 mi	3 of 5	38	(712) 340-1236
Twilight Acres	Wall Lake, IA	22 mi	5 of 5	39	(712) 664-2488
Willow Dale Wellness Village	Battle Creek, IA	24 mi	4 of 5	40	(712) 365-4332

Hospices serving Denison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Crawford County Community Health	Denison, IA	0.6 mi	(712) 263-3303
Gentiva	Carroll, IA	25 mi	(712) 792-2191
Myrtue Medical Center Hospice	Harlan, IA	26 mi	(712) 755-4308
St Croix Hospice	Co Bluffs, IA	58 mi	(712) 318-2120

Straight-line miles from the center of Denison. 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 Denison

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 52% of the $2,907 monthly median income of Denison 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 Denison: common questions

What nursing homes are near Denison?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Gracewell, An Eventide Community in Denison (0.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Denison Care Center in Denison (1.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Dunlap Specialty Care in Dunlap (17 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Denison?

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 52% of the $2,907 monthly median income of Denison 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 Denison

More senior care near Denison

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Denison

More for Denison 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 Denison, IA