Dementia Care in Fort Atkinson, WI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Fort Atkinson, WI: the local picture

249

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

2,316

residents 65 or older (19% of Fort Atkinson)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Jefferson County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Fort Atkinson has about 249 residents aged 85 or older among 2,316 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.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability (27% in Jefferson County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Fort Atkinson 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.

Fort Atkinson compared with Jefferson County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Fort Atkinson	Jefferson County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	8.2%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	6.3%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,786	$59,050	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Atkinson

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Jefferson, WI	5.8 mi	1,261	163
Whitewater, WI	8.2 mi	1,592	141
Lake Mills, WI	11 mi	1,189	102
Johnson Creek, WI	11 mi	364	18
Milton, WI	11 mi	935	82
Edgerton, WI	13 mi	1,046	172

Nursing homes near Fort Atkinson

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rock River Nursing & Rehab	Fort Atkinson, WI	1.0 mi	1 of 5	87	(920) 563-5533
Alden Estates Of Countryside, Inc	Jefferson, WI	4.8 mi	1 of 5	120	(920) 674-3170
Lake Mills Health Services	Lake Mills, WI	12 mi	4 of 5	50	(920) 648-8344
Edgerton Care Center, Inc	Edgerton, WI	13 mi	1 of 5	61	(608) 884-1330
Rock Haven	Janesville, WI	17 mi	4 of 5	128	(608) 757-5076
Skaalen Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Stoughton, WI	18 mi	5 of 5	70	(608) 873-5651

Hospices serving Fort Atkinson

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Rainbow Hospice Care	Jefferson, WI	5.6 mi	(920) 674-6255
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	25 mi	(608) 819-0033
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	29 mi	(608) 960-7699
St Croix Hospice Waukesha	Waukesha, WI	30 mi	(262) 796-0600

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Atkinson. 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 Fort Atkinson

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,899 monthly median income of Fort Atkinson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Fort Atkinson: common questions

What nursing homes are near Fort Atkinson?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Rock River Nursing & Rehab in Fort Atkinson (1.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Alden Estates Of Countryside, Inc in Jefferson (4.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Lake Mills Health Services in Lake Mills (12 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Fort Atkinson?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,899 monthly median income of Fort Atkinson households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Fort Atkinson

More senior care near Fort Atkinson

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Atkinson

More for Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson, WI