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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Dubuque, IA: the local picture

1,779

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

12,258

residents 65 or older (21% of Dubuque)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Dubuque County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Dubuque has about 1,779 residents aged 85 or older among 12,258 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 (26% in Dubuque County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older Dubuque 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.

Dubuque compared with Dubuque County and Iowa

Census figure	Dubuque	Dubuque County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.7%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	21%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.3%	4.8%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$52,932	$56,542	—

Older residents in towns around Dubuque

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Asbury, IA	3.8 mi	887	79
Galena, IL	15 mi	1,117	111
Platteville, WI	20 mi	1,286	170
Dyersville, IA	21 mi	734	172
Lancaster, WI	24 mi	935	117
Maquoketa, IA	30 mi	1,336	239

Nursing homes near Dubuque

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Luther Manor At Hillcrest	Dubuque, IA	0.6 mi	1 of 5	103	(563) 588-1413
Ennoble Nursing And Rehab	Dubuque, IA	0.7 mi	5 of 5	85	(563) 557-1076
Dubuque Specialty Care	Dubuque, IA	1.1 mi	2 of 5	84	(563) 556-0673
Harmony Dubuque	Dubuque, IA	1.7 mi	2 of 5	75	(563) 556-1161
Grand Meadows Senior Living & Health Care	Asbury, IA	2.6 mi	2 of 5	32	(563) 588-1413
Hawkeye Care Center Dubuque	Asbury, IA	2.7 mi	3 of 5	80	(563) 583-6447

Hospices serving Dubuque

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Dubuque	Dubuque, IA	1.8 mi	(563) 582-1220
Above & Beyond Hospice Care	Monticello, IA	31 mi	(319) 465-4637
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	44 mi	(563) 933-2070
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	63 mi	(319) 362-2500

Straight-line miles from the center of Dubuque. 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 Dubuque

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 34% of the $4,411 monthly median income of Dubuque 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 Dubuque: common questions

What nursing homes are near Dubuque?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Luther Manor At Hillcrest in Dubuque (0.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Ennoble Nursing And Rehab in Dubuque (0.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Dubuque Specialty Care in Dubuque (1.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Dubuque?

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 34% of the $4,411 monthly median income of Dubuque 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 Dubuque

More senior care near Dubuque

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Dubuque

More for Dubuque 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 Dubuque, IA