Dementia Care in Ely, MN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Ely, MN: the local picture

63

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

910

residents 65 or older (28% of Ely)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in St. Louis County)

1

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Ely has about 63 residents aged 85 or older among 910 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.

34% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in St. Louis County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Ely 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.

Ely compared with St. Louis County and Minnesota

Census figure	Ely	St. Louis County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	28%	21%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.5%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.2%	3.2%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,607	$54,929	—

Older residents in towns around Ely

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Virginia, MN	41 mi	2,013	316
Mountain Iron, MN	44 mi	744	61
Eveleth, MN	44 mi	644	88
Chisholm, MN	56 mi	1,308	236
Two Harbors, MN	61 mi	694	108
Hibbing, MN	62 mi	3,743	545

Nursing homes near Ely

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Boundary Waters Care Center	Ely, MN	1.0 mi	5 of 5	38	(218) 365-8705

Hospices serving Ely

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Caringedge Hospice Hermantown	Hermantown, MN	77 mi	(218) 723-8905
Essentia Health St Mary's Hospice & Palliative Care Services	Duluth, MN	77 mi	(218) 786-4020
St Croix Hospice	Oakdale, MN	208 mi	(651) 735-3656

Straight-line miles from the center of Ely. 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 Ely

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,467 monthly median income of Ely households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Ely: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ely?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely (1.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Ely?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,467 monthly median income of Ely households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Ely

More senior care near Ely

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ely

More for Ely 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 Ely, MN