Dementia Care in Erie, PA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Erie, PA: the local picture

1,876

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

15,350

residents 65 or older (16% of Erie)

38%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Erie has about 1,876 residents aged 85 or older among 15,350 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.

38% of residents 65 and older report a disability (33% in Erie County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

43% of older Erie 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.

Erie compared with Erie County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Erie	Erie County	Pennsylvania
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.2%	2.4%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	33%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	43%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	10%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	6.9%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,676	$47,768	—

Older residents in towns around Erie

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Wesleyville, PA	3.4 mi	498	86
Lawrence Park, PA	3.5 mi	585	64
Northwest Harborcreek, PA	4.6 mi	2,354	305
Fairview, PA	11 mi	749	81
North East, PA	14 mi	782	79
Girard, PA	15 mi	545	55

Nursing homes near Erie

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lecom At Village Square, LLC	Erie, PA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	110	(814) 452-3271
Sarah Reed Senior Living	Erie, PA	0.4 mi	5 of 5	106	(814) 878-2600
Nightingale Nursing And Rehab Center	Erie, PA	0.7 mi	3 of 5	139	(814) 459-0621
Pennsylvania Soldiers And Sailors Home	Erie, PA	1.4 mi	5 of 5	107	(814) 871-4531
Lecom At Elmwood Gardens, LLC	Erie, PA	1.7 mi	5 of 5	51	(814) 864-4802
Greenfield Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Erie, PA	2.9 mi	1 of 5	133	(814) 864-0671

Hospices serving Erie

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Family Hospice	Erie, PA	1.2 mi	(814) 877-6120
Interim Healthcare Hospice Of Erie	Erie, PA	4.1 mi	(814) 836-0214
Lakeland Area Hospice, LP	Erie, PA	4.1 mi	(814) 838-0511
Vna Hospice Services Of Erie County	Erie, PA	4.8 mi	(814) 454-2831

Straight-line miles from the center of Erie. 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 Erie

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,140 monthly median income of Erie households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Erie: common questions

What nursing homes are near Erie?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Lecom At Village Square, LLC in Erie (0.3 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Sarah Reed Senior Living in Erie (0.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Nightingale Nursing And Rehab Center in Erie (0.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Erie?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,140 monthly median income of Erie households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Erie

More senior care near Erie

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Erie

More for Erie 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 Erie, PA