Dementia Care in Kurtistown, HI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Kurtistown, HI: the local picture

92

residents 85 or older (2.9% of all residents)

833

residents 65 or older (26% of Kurtistown)

48%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Hawaii County)

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Kurtistown has about 92 residents aged 85 or older among 833 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.

48% of residents 65 and older report a disability (33% in Hawaii County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

4.9% of older Kurtistown 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.

Kurtistown compared with Hawaii County and Hawaii

Census figure	Kurtistown	Hawaii County	Hawaii
Residents 85 or older	2.9%	2.3%	2.8%
Residents 65 or older	26%	24%	20%
Residents 65+ with a disability	48%	33%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	4.9%	22%	20%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.8%	11%	9.2%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	21%	23%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$95,284	$69,877	—

Older residents in towns around Kurtistown

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hawaiian Acres, HI	4.0 mi	664	0
Orchidlands Estates, HI	4.2 mi	450	0
Hawaiian Paradise Park, HI	6.4 mi	3,062	100
Ainaloa, HI	6.7 mi	993	110
Hilo, HI	7.1 mi	11,451	2,020
Mountain View, HI	8.2 mi	651	106

Nursing homes near Kurtistown

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Life Care Center Of Hilo	Hilo, HI	6.8 mi	5 of 5	252	(808) 959-9151
Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation & Nursing Center	Hilo, HI	8.6 mi	1 of 5	100	(808) 498-0184
Hilo Benioff Medical Center	Hilo, HI	9.4 mi	4 of 5	52	(808) 932-3000
Hale Anuenue Restorative Care	Hilo, HI	9.4 mi	4 of 5	120	(808) 961-6644
Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home	Hilo, HI	9.4 mi	4 of 5	95	(808) 961-1500

Hospices serving Kurtistown

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Dba Hawai'i Care Choices	Hilo, HI	8.2 mi	(808) 969-1733
North Hawaii Hospice, Inc	Kamuela, HI	51 mi	(808) 885-7547

Straight-line miles from the center of Kurtistown. 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 Kurtistown

At the Hawaii median aide wage of $18.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,588 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $7,940 monthly median income of Kurtistown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 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 Kurtistown: common questions

What nursing homes are near Kurtistown?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Life Care Center Of Hilo in Hilo (6.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Legacy Hilo Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Hilo (8.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Hilo Benioff Medical Center in Hilo (9.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Kurtistown?

At the Hawaii median aide wage of $18.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,588 a month in wages, which is 20% of the $7,940 monthly median income of Kurtistown households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Hawaii's minimum wage is $16.00 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 Kurtistown

More senior care near Kurtistown

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Kurtistown

More for Kurtistown 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 Kurtistown, HI