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

Local figures

Dementia Care in East Alton, IL: the local picture

57

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

890

residents 65 or older (16% of East Alton)

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Madison County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

East Alton has about 57 residents aged 85 or older among 890 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.

30% of residents 65 and older report a disability (35% in Madison County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

44% of older East Alton 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.

East Alton compared with Madison County and Illinois

Census figure	East Alton	Madison County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	35%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.0%	9.0%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.2%	3.6%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,841	$57,096	—

Older residents in towns around East Alton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Rosewood Heights, IL	1.9 mi	1,068	149
Wood River, IL	2.2 mi	1,691	127
Alton, IL	2.7 mi	4,354	569
Bethalto, IL	3.6 mi	2,119	238
Godfrey, IL	7.8 mi	4,551	576
Spanish Lake, MO	8.5 mi	2,122	299

Nursing homes near East Alton

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nexus At Alton	Alton, IL	1.1 mi	1 of 5	181	(618) 465-8887
Bria Of Woodriver	Wood River, IL	1.5 mi	1 of 5	106	(618) 259-4111
Alton Memorial Rehab & Therapy	Alton, IL	3.0 mi	3 of 5	64	(618) 463-7330
La Bella Of Alton	Alton, IL	3.7 mi	1 of 5	180	(618) 465-2626
Bria Of Godfrey	Godfrey, IL	8.0 mi	2 of 5	68	(618) 466-0443
Stonebridge Florissant	Florissant, MO	8.3 mi	2 of 5	120	(314) 741-9101

Hospices serving East Alton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Osf Saint Anthony's Hospice	Alton, IL	3.1 mi	(618) 463-5683
Bjc Hospice	Glen Carbon, IL	11 mi	(618) 463-7100
Unity Hospice Of Greater St Louis	Collinsville, IL	15 mi	(618) 346-1111
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Midwest	Fairview Heights, IL	21 mi	(618) 622-9073

Straight-line miles from the center of East Alton. 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 East Alton

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 40% of the $3,987 monthly median income of East Alton 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 East Alton: common questions

What nursing homes are near East Alton?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Nexus At Alton in Alton (1.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Bria Of Woodriver in Wood River (1.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Alton Memorial Rehab & Therapy in Alton (3.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in East Alton?

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 40% of the $3,987 monthly median income of East Alton 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 East Alton

More senior care near East Alton

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in East Alton

More for East Alton 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 East Alton, IL