Dementia Care in Gunnison, CO: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Gunnison, CO: the local picture

36

residents 85 or older (0.5% of all residents)

650

residents 65 or older (9.6% of Gunnison)

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Gunnison County)

1

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Gunnison has about 36 residents aged 85 or older among 650 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.

43% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Gunnison County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

49% of older Gunnison 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.

Gunnison compared with Gunnison County and Colorado

Census figure	Gunnison	Gunnison County	Colorado
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	0.7%	1.6%
Residents 65 or older	9.6%	15%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	28%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	8.7%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	5.9%	16%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,408	$78,393	—

Older residents in towns around Gunnison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Aspen, CO	45 mi	1,174	67
Snowmass Village, CO	46 mi	1,038	182
Buena Vista, CO	47 mi	152	0
Salida, CO	50 mi	1,361	198
Montrose, CO	51 mi	5,822	786
Basalt, CO	57 mi	1,038	96

Nursing homes near Gunnison

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Gunnison Valley Health Senior Care Center	Gunnison, CO	1.4 mi	5 of 5	50	(970) 641-0704

Hospices serving Gunnison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gunnison Valley Health Hospice And Palliative Care	Gunnison, CO	0.4 mi	(970) 641-4254

Straight-line miles from the center of Gunnison. 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 Gunnison

At the Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,617 monthly median income of Gunnison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 Gunnison: common questions

What nursing homes are near Gunnison?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Gunnison Valley Health Senior Care Center in Gunnison (1.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Gunnison?

At the Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,617 monthly median income of Gunnison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 Gunnison

More senior care near Gunnison

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gunnison

More for Gunnison 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 Gunnison, CO