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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Jefferson, IA: the local picture

231

residents 85 or older (5.6% of all residents)

1,307

residents 65 or older (31% of Jefferson)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Greene County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Jefferson has about 231 residents aged 85 or older among 1,307 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.

40% of residents 65 and older report a disability (37% in Greene County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Jefferson 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.

Jefferson compared with Greene County and Iowa

Census figure	Jefferson	Greene County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	5.6%	3.3%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	31%	24%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	37%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.3%	2.2%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,500	$46,319	—

Older residents in towns around Jefferson

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Perry, IA	19 mi	1,200	187
Carroll, IA	25 mi	2,456	466
Boone, IA	26 mi	2,272	257
Madrid, IA	30 mi	566	146
Adel, IA	34 mi	792	144
Fort Dodge, IA	36 mi	4,713	723

Nursing homes near Jefferson

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Regency Park Nursing & Rehab Center Of Jefferson	Jefferson, IA	1.1 mi	4 of 5	46	(515) 386-4107
Thomas Rest Haven	Coon Rapids, IA	18 mi	2 of 5	57	(712) 999-2253
Accura Healthcare Of Ogden, LLC	Ogden, IA	19 mi	4 of 5	46	(515) 275-2481
Perry Lutheran Home	Perry, IA	19 mi	1 of 5	70	(515) 465-5342
Perry Lutheran Homes Eden Acres Campus	Perry, IA	20 mi	2 of 5	57	(515) 465-5316
Panora Specialty Care	Panora, IA	23 mi	3 of 5	46	(641) 219-4335

Hospices serving Jefferson

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gentiva	Panora, IA	22 mi	(515) 276-6696
St. Anthony Regional Hospital And Nursing Home	Carroll, IA	25 mi	(712) 794-5279
Mary Greeley Hospice Services	Ames, IA	35 mi	(515) 239-2011
Unitypoint Hospice	Fort Dodge, IA	35 mi	(515) 574-6420

Straight-line miles from the center of Jefferson. 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 Jefferson

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 42% of the $3,542 monthly median income of Jefferson 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 Jefferson: common questions

What nursing homes are near Jefferson?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Regency Park Nursing & Rehab Center Of Jefferson in Jefferson (1.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids (18 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Accura Healthcare Of Ogden, LLC in Ogden (19 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Jefferson?

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 42% of the $3,542 monthly median income of Jefferson 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 Jefferson

More senior care near Jefferson

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Jefferson

More for Jefferson 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 Jefferson, IA