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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Gary, IN: the local picture

1,545

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

12,880

residents 65 or older (19% of Gary)

37%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Gary has about 1,545 residents aged 85 or older among 12,880 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.

37% of residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Lake County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Gary 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.

Gary compared with Lake County and Indiana

Census figure	Gary	Lake County	Indiana
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	19%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	32%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	11%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.1%	15%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,274	$53,273	—

Older residents in towns around Gary

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Ross, IN	4.1 mi	1,051	122
Lake Station, IN	5.0 mi	1,648	154
Griffith, IN	5.9 mi	2,974	186
Hobart, IN	6.5 mi	4,478	489
Highland, IN	6.5 mi	5,096	918
East Chicago, IN	6.8 mi	3,676	514

Nursing homes near Gary

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
South Shore Health & Rehabilitation Center	Gary, IN	1.0 mi	1 of 5	100	(219) 886-7070
Aperion Care Tolleston Park	Gary, IN	1.4 mi	1 of 5	178	(219) 977-2600
Waters Of Hobart Skilled Nursing Facility, The	Hobart, IN	4.1 mi	1 of 5	110	(219) 942-2170
Casa Of Hobart	Hobart, IN	4.6 mi	1 of 5	138	(219) 947-1507
Harbor Health & Rehab	East Chicago, IN	6.5 mi	1 of 5	106	(219) 397-0380
Rehabilitation Center At Hartsfield Village	Munster, IN	8.2 mi	3 of 5	112	(219) 934-0590

Hospices serving Gary

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Unity Hospice Of Northwest Indiana LLC	Merrillville, IN	6.6 mi	(219) 769-8648
Hospice Of The Calumet Area Inc	Munster, IN	8.3 mi	(219) 922-2732
Traditions Health	Crown Point, IN	12 mi	(219) 661-3100
Transitions Crown Point, LLC	Crown Point, IN	12 mi	(317) 954-6600

Straight-line miles from the center of Gary. 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 Gary

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 41% of the $3,523 monthly median income of Gary 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 Gary: common questions

What nursing homes are near Gary?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are South Shore Health & Rehabilitation Center in Gary (1.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Aperion Care Tolleston Park in Gary (1.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Waters Of Hobart Skilled Nursing Facility, The in Hobart (4.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Gary?

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 41% of the $3,523 monthly median income of Gary 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 Gary

More senior care near Gary

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gary

More for Gary 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 Gary, IN