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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Hiawatha, IA: the local picture

123

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

1,068

residents 65 or older (15% of Hiawatha)

31%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Linn County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Hiawatha has about 123 residents aged 85 or older among 1,068 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.

31% of residents 65 and older report a disability (27% in Linn County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

28% of older Hiawatha 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.

Hiawatha compared with Linn County and Iowa

Census figure	Hiawatha	Linn County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.1%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.3%	6.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	7.1%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,356	$61,583	—

Older residents in towns around Hiawatha

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Robins, IA	1.8 mi	476	43
Marion, IA	5.4 mi	7,523	710
Cedar Rapids, IA	6.4 mi	22,967	3,198
Center Point, IA	10.0 mi	356	47
Fairfax, IA	10 mi	400	34
Mount Vernon, IA	16 mi	497	38

Nursing homes near Hiawatha

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hiawatha Care Center	Hiawatha, IA	1.0 mi	3 of 5	109	(319) 378-8583
Northbrook Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Cedar Rapids, IA	1.9 mi	1 of 5	130	(319) 393-1447
St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center	Cedar Rapids, IA	2.6 mi	5 of 5	46	(319) 366-8701
Hallmar Village	Cedar Rapids, IA	2.6 mi	2 of 5	55	(319) 369-4638
Terrace Glen Village	Marion, IA	3.9 mi	5 of 5	40	(319) 377-9000
Meth-Wick Health Center	Cedar Rapids, IA	4.7 mi	5 of 5	69	(319) 365-9171

Hospices serving Hiawatha

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of Mercy	Hiawatha, IA	1.1 mi	(319) 398-6496
Unitypoint Hospice	Cedar Rapids, IA	3.0 mi	(319) 874-4907
Suncrest Hospice	Cedar Rapids, IA	3.0 mi	(319) 451-6300
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	7.2 mi	(319) 362-2500

Straight-line miles from the center of Hiawatha. 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 Hiawatha

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 29% of the $5,196 monthly median income of Hiawatha 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 Hiawatha: common questions

What nursing homes are near Hiawatha?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha (1.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Northbrook Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Cedar Rapids (1.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall); St Luke's Helen G Nassif Transitional Care Center in Cedar Rapids (2.6 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Hiawatha?

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 29% of the $5,196 monthly median income of Hiawatha 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 Hiawatha

More senior care near Hiawatha

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Hiawatha

More for Hiawatha 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 Hiawatha, IA