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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Fergus Falls, MN: the local picture

884

residents 85 or older (6.2% of all residents)

3,663

residents 65 or older (26% of Fergus Falls)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Otter Tail County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Fergus Falls has about 884 residents aged 85 or older among 3,663 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.

40% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Otter Tail County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

38% of older Fergus Falls 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.

Fergus Falls compared with Otter Tail County and Minnesota

Census figure	Fergus Falls	Otter Tail County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	6.2%	3.2%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	26%	25%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	28%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.5%	8.4%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.6%	4.6%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,455	$53,778	—

Older residents in towns around Fergus Falls

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Pelican Rapids, MN	20 mi	444	108
Breckenridge, MN	24 mi	667	231
Wahpeton, ND	26 mi	1,557	158
Barnesville, MN	30 mi	359	57
Perham, MN	32 mi	872	193
Detroit Lakes, MN	38 mi	2,539	376

Nursing homes near Fergus Falls

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lb Broen Home	Fergus Falls, MN	0.8 mi	2 of 5	74	(218) 998-7300
Pioneer Care Center	Fergus Falls, MN	1.1 mi	5 of 5	105	(218) 998-1500
MN Veterans Home-Fergus Falls	Fergus Falls, MN	1.2 mi	4 of 5	85	(218) 736-0400
Good Samaritan Society - Battle Lake	Battle Lake, MN	17 mi	5 of 5	51	(218) 864-5231
Pelican Valley Health Center	Pelican Rapids, MN	20 mi	5 of 5	28	(218) 863-2991
St Francis Home	Breckenridge, MN	25 mi	5 of 5	80	(218) 643-3000

Hospices serving Fergus Falls

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Chi Health At Home	Breckenridge, MN	23 mi	(218) 643-2275
Horizon Public Health	Alexandria, MN	43 mi	(320) 763-6018
Vivie Hospice	Alexandria, MN	43 mi	(320) 759-1275
Moments Hospice Of Alexandria LLC	Alexandria, MN	43 mi	(877) 666-3687

Straight-line miles from the center of Fergus Falls. 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 Fergus Falls

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 40% of the $3,955 monthly median income of Fergus Falls 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 Fergus Falls: common questions

What nursing homes are near Fergus Falls?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Lb Broen Home in Fergus Falls (0.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Pioneer Care Center in Fergus Falls (1.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); MN Veterans Home-Fergus Falls in Fergus Falls (1.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Fergus Falls?

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 40% of the $3,955 monthly median income of Fergus Falls 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 Fergus Falls

More senior care near Fergus Falls

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fergus Falls

More for Fergus Falls 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 Fergus Falls, MN