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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Grinnell, IA: the local picture

290

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

2,034

residents 65 or older (21% of Grinnell)

34%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Grinnell has about 290 residents aged 85 or older among 2,034 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.

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

31% of older Grinnell 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.

Grinnell compared with Poweshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Grinnell	Poweshiek County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.6%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	21%	21%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	34%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	12%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.0%	5.3%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,295	$52,451	—

Older residents in towns around Grinnell

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Newton, IA	16 mi	3,381	699
Tama, IA	18 mi	496	76
Marshalltown, IA	23 mi	4,563	698
Pella, IA	25 mi	2,017	360
Oskaloosa, IA	31 mi	2,347	306
Mitchellville, IA	33 mi	263	23

Nursing homes near Grinnell

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mayflower Home	Grinnell, IA	0.3 mi	5 of 5	40	(641) 236-6151
St Francis Manor	Grinnell, IA	1.1 mi	5 of 5	78	(641) 236-7592
Montezuma Specialty Care	Montezuma, IA	14 mi	3 of 5	41	(641) 219-4330
Brooklyn Community Estates	Brooklyn, IA	15 mi	5 of 5	50	(641) 522-9263
Accura Healthcare Of Newton East, LLC	Newton, IA	16 mi	1 of 5	54	(641) 792-5680
Valley Vista For Nursing And Rehabilitation	Newton, IA	17 mi	3 of 5	70	(641) 792-7440

Hospices serving Grinnell

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Iowa River Hospice	Marshalltown, IA	23 mi	(641) 753-7704
Hospice Of Pella, The Comfort House	Pella, IA	25 mi	(641) 628-6644
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	44 mi	(515) 276-2700
Essence Of Life Hospice	Amana, IA	44 mi	(319) 622-3195

Straight-line miles from the center of Grinnell. 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 Grinnell

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 34% of the $4,441 monthly median income of Grinnell 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 Grinnell: common questions

What nursing homes are near Grinnell?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Mayflower Home in Grinnell (0.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); St Francis Manor in Grinnell (1.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Montezuma Specialty Care in Montezuma (14 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Grinnell?

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 34% of the $4,441 monthly median income of Grinnell 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 Grinnell

More senior care near Grinnell

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Grinnell

More for Grinnell 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 Grinnell, IA