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

Local figures

Dementia Care in East Tawas, MI: the local picture

185

residents 85 or older (6.9% of all residents)

971

residents 65 or older (36% of East Tawas)

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Iosco County)

3

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

East Tawas has about 185 residents aged 85 or older among 971 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 (34% in Iosco County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older East Tawas 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 Tawas compared with Iosco County and Michigan

Census figure	East Tawas	Iosco County	Michigan
Residents 85 or older	6.9%	3.1%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	36%	31%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	14%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.5%	3.0%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,875	$40,668	—

Older residents in towns around East Tawas

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Skidway Lake, MI	29 mi	584	52
Bad Axe, MI	41 mi	791	170
St. Helen, MI	46 mi	913	81
Essexville, MI	50 mi	694	53
Bay City, MI	52 mi	5,720	676
Gladwin, MI	54 mi	781	123

Nursing homes near East Tawas

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medilodge Of Tawas City	Tawas City, MI	2.2 mi	3 of 5	85	(989) 362-8645
Lakeview Manor Healthcare Center	Tawas City, MI	2.2 mi	5 of 5	60	(989) 362-2211
Iosco County Medical Care Facility	Tawas City, MI	2.7 mi	2 of 5	78	(989) 362-4424

Hospices serving East Tawas

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
The Care Team Hospice	Standish, MI	32 mi	(989) 941-9975
Compassus - Northern Michigan	West Branch, MI	37 mi	(989) 343-2470
Heartland Hospice (West Branch)	West Branch, MI	37 mi	(989) 345-0651
Optimal Care Hospice	Saginaw, MI	61 mi	(888) 758-5709

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

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 45% of the $3,240 monthly median income of East Tawas 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 Tawas: common questions

What nursing homes are near East Tawas?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Medilodge Of Tawas City in Tawas City (2.2 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Lakeview Manor Healthcare Center in Tawas City (2.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Iosco County Medical Care Facility in Tawas City (2.7 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in East Tawas?

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 45% of the $3,240 monthly median income of East Tawas 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 Tawas

More senior care near East Tawas

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in East Tawas

More for East Tawas 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 Tawas, MI