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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Empire, MN: the local picture

43

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

440

residents 65 or older (14% of Empire)

22%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Empire has about 43 residents aged 85 or older among 440 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.

22% of residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Dakota County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

11% of older Empire 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.

Empire compared with Dakota County and Minnesota

Census figure	Empire	Dakota County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	14%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	11%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.2%	6.6%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.9%	14%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$106,944	$69,739	—

Older residents in towns around Empire

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Farmington, MN	4.0 mi	1,932	233
Rosemount, MN	4.7 mi	3,813	362
Apple Valley, MN	6.9 mi	9,553	1,183
Lakeville, MN	7.8 mi	8,099	590
Eagan, MN	10.0 mi	10,943	1,007
Inver Grove Heights, MN	10 mi	6,440	671

Nursing homes near Empire

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Trinity Care Center	Farmington, MN	3.3 mi	5 of 5	90	(651) 463-7818
Apple Valley Village Health Care Center	Apple Valley, MN	7.1 mi	5 of 5	162	(952) 236-2000
Ebenezer Ridges Geriatric Care Center	Burnsville, MN	10 mi	4 of 5	114	(952) 898-8400
Regina Senior Living	Hastings, MN	12 mi	2 of 5	57	(651) 480-4333
Augustana Care Hastings Health And Rehabilitation	Hastings, MN	12 mi	5 of 5	72	(651) 437-6176
Norris Square	Cottage Grove, MN	12 mi	5 of 5	72	(651) 769-6650

Hospices serving Empire

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Minnesota Hospice LLC	Lakeville, MN	8.1 mi	(952) 898-1022
Healthpartners Hospice And Palliatice Care	Bloomington, MN	13 mi	(952) 883-6877
Sholom Hospice	Saint Paul, MN	18 mi	(651) 328-2091
Hospice Of The Midwest	Woodbury, MN	18 mi	(651) 344-1040

Straight-line miles from the center of Empire. 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 Empire

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 18% of the $8,912 monthly median income of Empire 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 Empire: common questions

What nursing homes are near Empire?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Trinity Care Center in Farmington (3.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Apple Valley Village Health Care Center in Apple Valley (7.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Ebenezer Ridges Geriatric Care Center in Burnsville (10 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Empire?

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 18% of the $8,912 monthly median income of Empire 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 Empire

More senior care near Empire

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Empire

More for Empire 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 Empire, MN