Dementia Care in Garrett, IN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Garrett, IN: the local picture

80

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

1,106

residents 65 or older (17% of Garrett)

49%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in DeKalb County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Garrett has about 80 residents aged 85 or older among 1,106 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.

49% of residents 65 and older report a disability (34% in DeKalb County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older Garrett 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.

Garrett compared with DeKalb County and Indiana

Census figure	Garrett	DeKalb County	Indiana
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.3%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	8.4%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.6%	2.5%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,862	$46,352	—

Older residents in towns around Garrett

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Auburn, IN	3.6 mi	2,397	197
Avilla, IN	5.7 mi	401	40
Kendallville, IN	9.4 mi	1,833	173
Huntertown, IN	9.6 mi	1,478	143
Leo-Cedarville, IN	11 mi	411	15
Butler, IN	14 mi	413	69

Nursing homes near Garrett

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Miller's Merry Manor	Garrett, IN	1.5 mi	5 of 5	76	(260) 357-5174
Betz Nursing Home	Auburn, IN	4.5 mi	5 of 5	114	(260) 925-3814
Auburn Village	Auburn, IN	5.0 mi	3 of 5	111	(260) 925-5494
Ascension Living Sacred Heart Village	Avilla, IN	6.2 mi	3 of 5	133	(260) 897-2841
Lutheran Life Villages	Kendallville, IN	8.6 mi	5 of 5	99	(260) 347-2256
Kendallville Manor	Kendallville, IN	8.7 mi	5 of 5	60	(260) 347-4374

Hospices serving Garrett

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Interim Healthcare Of Fort Wayne	Fort Wayne, IN	14 mi	(260) 482-9405
Heartland Hospice (Ft Wayne)	Fort Wayne, IN	14 mi	(260) 484-7622
Parkview Hospice	Fort Wayne, IN	18 mi	(260) 373-9800
Anew Hospice Ft Wayne LLC	Fort Wayne, IN	22 mi	(317) 300-2292

Straight-line miles from the center of Garrett. 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 Garrett

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,989 monthly median income of Garrett households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Garrett: common questions

What nursing homes are near Garrett?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Miller's Merry Manor in Garrett (1.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Betz Nursing Home in Auburn (4.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Auburn Village in Auburn (5.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Garrett?

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,989 monthly median income of Garrett households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Garrett

More senior care near Garrett

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Garrett

More for Garrett 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 Garrett, IN