Dementia Care in Great Bend, KS: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Great Bend, KS: the local picture

478

residents 85 or older (3.3% of all residents)

2,705

residents 65 or older (19% of Great Bend)

38%

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

3

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Great Bend has about 478 residents aged 85 or older among 2,705 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.

38% of residents 65 and older report a disability (34% in Barton County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% of older Great Bend 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.

Great Bend compared with Barton County and Kansas

Census figure	Great Bend	Barton County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	3.1%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	19%	21%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	34%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.5%	10%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	9.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,469	$49,172	—

Older residents in towns around Great Bend

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hoisington, KS	11 mi	503	54
Larned, KS	20 mi	899	169
Lyons, KS	32 mi	565	56
Russell, KS	37 mi	1,030	138
Ellsworth, KS	40 mi	537	41
Pratt, KS	46 mi	1,278	177

Nursing homes near Great Bend

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medicalodges Great Bend	Great Bend, KS	0.9 mi	2 of 5	51	(620) 792-2165
Azria Health Great Bend	Great Bend, KS	1.4 mi	2 of 5	85	(620) 792-2448
Diversicare Of Larned	Larned, KS	21 mi	5 of 5	80	(620) 285-6914

Hospices serving Great Bend

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Golden Belt Hospice	Great Bend, KS	2.7 mi	(620) 792-8171
Hospice & Palliative Care At Haysmed	Hays, KS	46 mi	(785) 623-6200
Hospice And Homecare Of Reno County	Hutchinson, KS	52 mi	(620) 665-2473
Gentiva	Wichita, KS	95 mi	(316) 559-2049

Straight-line miles from the center of Great Bend. 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 Great Bend

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,706 monthly median income of Great Bend households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Great Bend: common questions

What nursing homes are near Great Bend?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Medicalodges Great Bend in Great Bend (0.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Azria Health Great Bend in Great Bend (1.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Diversicare Of Larned in Larned (21 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Great Bend?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $3,706 monthly median income of Great Bend households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Great Bend

More senior care near Great Bend

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Great Bend

More for Great Bend 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 Great Bend, KS