Dementia Care in Gillespie, IL: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Gillespie, IL: the local picture

93

residents 85 or older (3.3% of all residents)

596

residents 65 or older (21% of Gillespie)

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Macoupin County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Gillespie has about 93 residents aged 85 or older among 596 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.

39% of residents 65 and older report a disability (37% in Macoupin County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

26% of older Gillespie 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.

Gillespie compared with Macoupin County and Illinois

Census figure	Gillespie	Macoupin County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	3.0%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	21%	22%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	37%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	13%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.0%	1.4%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,097	$52,626	—

Older residents in towns around Gillespie

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Staunton, IL	8.0 mi	1,045	194
Litchfield, IL	8.9 mi	1,682	359
Carlinville, IL	11 mi	1,334	257
Holiday Shores, IL	15 mi	498	0
Hillsboro, IL	19 mi	862	106
Bethalto, IL	20 mi	2,119	238

Nursing homes near Gillespie

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Gillespie Health & Rehab Ctr	Gillespie, IL	1.1 mi	4 of 5	100	(217) 839-2171
Staunton Health And Rehab Ctr	Staunton, IL	7.7 mi	2 of 5	90	(618) 635-5577
Avenues At Litchfield	Litchfield, IL	9.8 mi	4 of 5	65	(217) 324-3842
Litchfield Health & Rehab Center	Litchfield, IL	10 mi	4 of 5	92	(217) 324-2153
Hallmark Hc Of Carlinville	Carlinville, IL	12 mi	2 of 5	49	(217) 854-9606
Carlinville Rehab & Hcc	Carlinville, IL	12 mi	1 of 5	98	(217) 854-2511

Hospices serving Gillespie

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Bjc Hospice	Glen Carbon, IL	27 mi	(618) 463-7100
Vitas Healthcare Corporation Midwest	Fairview Heights, IL	38 mi	(618) 622-9073
Heartland Hospice (Fairview Heights)	Fairview Heights, IL	38 mi	(618) 632-0304
Hshs Hospice Illinois	Effingham, IL	67 mi	(217) 347-1777

Straight-line miles from the center of Gillespie. 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 Gillespie

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $3,091 monthly median income of Gillespie households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Gillespie: common questions

What nursing homes are near Gillespie?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Gillespie Health & Rehab Ctr in Gillespie (1.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Staunton Health And Rehab Ctr in Staunton (7.7 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Avenues At Litchfield in Litchfield (9.8 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Gillespie?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $3,091 monthly median income of Gillespie households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Gillespie

More senior care near Gillespie

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gillespie

More for Gillespie 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 Gillespie, IL