Dementia Care in East Lansing, MI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in East Lansing, MI: the local picture

772

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

4,105

residents 65 or older (9.0% of East Lansing)

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Ingham County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

East Lansing has about 772 residents aged 85 or older among 4,105 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.

31% of residents 65 and older report a disability (33% in Ingham County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

34% of older East Lansing 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 Lansing compared with Ingham County and Michigan

Census figure	East Lansing	Ingham County	Michigan
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.6%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	9.0%	15%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	33%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	35%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.9%	8.9%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	16%	13%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$84,127	$58,213	—

Older residents in towns around East Lansing

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Haslett, MI	4.3 mi	3,915	532
Okemos, MI	4.4 mi	3,750	431
Lansing, MI	4.6 mi	15,396	1,265
Bath, MI	5.0 mi	451	82
Edgemont Park, MI	5.6 mi	358	9
Waverly, MI	7.7 mi	5,397	636

Nursing homes near East Lansing

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medilodge Of East Lansing	East Lansing, MI	1.1 mi	2 of 5	99	(517) 332-5061
Burcham Hills Retirement Center	East Lansing, MI	1.8 mi	1 of 5	133	(517) 351-8377
The Willows At East Lansing	East Lansing, MI	1.9 mi	5 of 5	65	(517) 203-4042
Medilodge Of Campus Area	East Lansing, MI	2.1 mi	3 of 5	102	(517) 332-0817
Medilodge Of Okemos	Okemos, MI	3.8 mi	4 of 5	100	(517) 319-1400
Medilodge Of Capital Area	Lansing, MI	4.1 mi	2 of 5	120	(517) 272-4029

Hospices serving East Lansing

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Lansing, LLC	East Lansing, MI	0.8 mi	(517) 580-7530
Heartland Hospice (Mason)	Okemos, MI	4.4 mi	(517) 244-0404
Sparrow Hospice Services	Lansing, MI	4.5 mi	(517) 364-7200
Hospice Of Lansing	Lansing, MI	4.7 mi	(517) 882-4500

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

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $7,011 monthly median income of East Lansing households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Lansing: common questions

What nursing homes are near East Lansing?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Medilodge Of East Lansing in East Lansing (1.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Burcham Hills Retirement Center in East Lansing (1.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall); The Willows At East Lansing in East Lansing (1.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in East Lansing?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $7,011 monthly median income of East Lansing households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Lansing

More senior care near East Lansing

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in East Lansing

More for East Lansing 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 Lansing, MI