Dementia Care in Kearney, NE: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Kearney, NE: the local picture

737

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

5,546

residents 65 or older (16% of Kearney)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Buffalo County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Kearney has about 737 residents aged 85 or older among 5,546 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.

29% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Buffalo County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Kearney 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.

Kearney compared with Buffalo County and Nebraska

Census figure	Kearney	Buffalo County	Nebraska
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	34%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.5%	9.2%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	9.8%	8.8%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,813	$54,043	—

Older residents in towns around Kearney

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Minden, NE	15 mi	681	129
Holdrege, NE	24 mi	1,208	240
Lexington, NE	35 mi	1,013	176
Hastings, NE	37 mi	4,646	523
Grand Island, NE	41 mi	7,806	1,163
St. Paul, NE	48 mi	697	172

Nursing homes near Kearney

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Mother Hull Home	Kearney, NE	0.3 mi	2 of 5	58	(308) 234-2447
Good Samaritan Society - St John's	Kearney, NE	0.5 mi	2 of 5	56	(308) 234-1888
MT Carmel Home - Keens Memorial	Kearney, NE	0.7 mi	4 of 5	75	(308) 237-2287
Good Samaritan Society - St Luke's Village	Kearney, NE	1.6 mi	1 of 5	60	(308) 237-3108
Brookestone Gardens	Kearney, NE	2.2 mi	5 of 5	54	(308) 236-0211
Bethany Home, Inc	Minden, NE	16 mi	2 of 5	64	(308) 832-1594

Hospices serving Kearney

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aseracare Hospice	Kearney, NE	0.9 mi	(308) 698-0580
Brookestone Home Health & Hospice	Kearney, NE	4.2 mi	(308) 995-4375
Central Plains Hospice	Cozad, NE	49 mi	(308) 784-4630
Aseracare Hospice	York, NE	79 mi	(308) 624-3939

Straight-line miles from the center of Kearney. 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 Kearney

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,234 monthly median income of Kearney households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Kearney: common questions

What nursing homes are near Kearney?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Mother Hull Home in Kearney (0.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Good Samaritan Society - St John's in Kearney (0.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); MT Carmel Home - Keens Memorial in Kearney (0.7 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Kearney?

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 36% of the $4,234 monthly median income of Kearney households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Kearney

More senior care near Kearney

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Kearney

More for Kearney 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 Kearney, NE