Dementia Care in Fort Madison, IA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Fort Madison, IA: the local picture

302

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

2,208

residents 65 or older (22% of Fort Madison)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Lee County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Fort Madison has about 302 residents aged 85 or older among 2,208 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 (32% in Lee County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

42% of older Fort Madison 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 Madison compared with Lee County and Iowa

Census figure	Fort Madison	Lee County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.6%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.7%	9.1%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.7%	2.6%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,590	$44,102	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Madison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Keokuk, IA	15 mi	2,065	232
Hamilton, IL	16 mi	542	75
West Burlington, IA	16 mi	631	128
Burlington, IA	17 mi	5,107	787
Mount Pleasant, IA	26 mi	1,634	295
Canton, MO	35 mi	343	44

Nursing homes near Fort Madison

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Birkwood Village Of Fort Madison	Fort Madison, IA	1.0 mi	3 of 5	80	(319) 372-8021
Montrose Health Center	Montrose, IA	7.6 mi	3 of 5	44	(319) 463-5438
West Point Care Center Inc	West Point, IA	8.8 mi	5 of 5	46	(319) 837-6117
River Hills Village In Keokuk	Keokuk, IA	14 mi	3 of 5	84	(319) 524-5772
Mississippi Valley	Keokuk, IA	14 mi	3 of 5	83	(319) 524-5321
Southeast Iowa Healthcare Center	Keokuk, IA	14 mi	4 of 5	55	(319) 524-1800

Hospices serving Fort Madison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Lee County Health Department	Fort Madison, IA	0.9 mi	(319) 372-5225
Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice	West Burlington, IA	17 mi	(319) 768-3350
Everystep	Mount Pleasant, IA	26 mi	(319) 385-4472
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	94 mi	(319) 362-2500

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

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Fort Madison: common questions

What nursing homes are near Fort Madison?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Birkwood Village Of Fort Madison in Fort Madison (1.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Montrose Health Center in Montrose (7.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); West Point Care Center Inc in West Point (8.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Fort Madison?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Madison

More senior care near Fort Madison

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Madison

More for Fort Madison 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 Madison, IA