Dementia Care in Ithaca, NY: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Ithaca, NY: the local picture

300

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

3,318

residents 65 or older (10% of Ithaca)

24%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Ithaca has about 300 residents aged 85 or older among 3,318 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.

24% of residents 65 and older report a disability (27% in Tompkins County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Ithaca 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.

Ithaca compared with Tompkins County and New York

Census figure	Ithaca	Tompkins County	New York
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.6%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	10%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	7.9%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	26%	17%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$76,893	$74,031	—

Older residents in towns around Ithaca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Cayuga Heights, NY	1.8 mi	1,254	331
South Hill, NY	2.4 mi	508	164
Northeast Ithaca, NY	2.6 mi	473	53
Lansing, NY	3.3 mi	322	0
Munsons Corners, NY	18 mi	410	9
Cortland, NY	20 mi	2,194	260

Nursing homes near Ithaca

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Beechtree Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing	Ithaca, NY	0.5 mi	2 of 5	120	(607) 273-4166
Oak Hill Rehabilitation And Nursing Care Center	Ithaca, NY	1.0 mi	2 of 5	60	(607) 272-8282
Cayuga Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Ithaca, NY	2.0 mi	2 of 5	160	(607) 273-8072
Kendal At Ithaca	Ithaca, NY	2.6 mi	4 of 5	48	(607) 266-5300
Groton Community Health Care Ctr Res Care Fac	Groton, NY	12 mi	1 of 5	80	(607) 898-5876
Northwoods Rehab And Nursing Center At Moravia	Moravia, NY	19 mi	3 of 5	40	(315) 497-0440

Hospices serving Ithaca

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospicare & Palliative Care Services	Ithaca, NY	0.4 mi	(607) 272-0212
Carefirst / Southern Tier Hospice And Palliative	Painted Post, NY	37 mi	(607) 962-3100

Straight-line miles from the center of Ithaca. 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 Ithaca

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,408 monthly median income of Ithaca households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Ithaca: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ithaca?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Beechtree Center For Rehabilitation And Nursing in Ithaca (0.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Oak Hill Rehabilitation And Nursing Care Center in Ithaca (1.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Cayuga Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Ithaca (2.0 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Ithaca?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,408 monthly median income of Ithaca households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 Ithaca

More senior care near Ithaca

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ithaca

More for Ithaca 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 Ithaca, NY