Dementia Care in Lamar, MO: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Lamar, MO: the local picture

165

residents 85 or older (3.9% of all residents)

985

residents 65 or older (23% of Lamar)

53%

of residents 65+ report a disability (48% in Barton County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Lamar has about 165 residents aged 85 or older among 985 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.

53% of residents 65 and older report a disability (48% in Barton County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

27% of older Lamar 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.

Lamar compared with Barton County and Missouri

Census figure	Lamar	Barton County	Missouri
Residents 85 or older	3.9%	2.7%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	23%	21%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	48%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	25%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	14%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.8%	4.8%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,421	$38,717	—

Older residents in towns around Lamar

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Oronogo, MO	23 mi	272	0
Frontenac, KS	23 mi	712	112
Pittsburg, KS	24 mi	2,600	288
Carthage, MO	24 mi	2,055	356
Nevada, MO	25 mi	1,455	131
Webb City, MO	26 mi	1,788	186

Nursing homes near Lamar

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Truman Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Lamar, MO	1.0 mi	1 of 5	109	(417) 682-5718
Good Shepherd Community Care And Rehabilitation	Lockwood, MO	19 mi	3 of 5	69	(417) 232-4571
Arma Operator, LLC	Arma, KS	23 mi	4 of 5	45	(620) 347-4103
Medicalodges Frontenac	Frontenac, KS	23 mi	1 of 5	55	(620) 231-7340
Aspire Senior Living Carthage	Carthage, MO	23 mi	3 of 5	120	(417) 358-1937
Pittsburg Care And Rehab	Pittsburg, KS	24 mi	3 of 5	86	(620) 231-1120

Hospices serving Lamar

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Compassus-Joplin	Joplin, MO	33 mi	(417) 623-8272
Gentiva	Joplin, MO	33 mi	(417) 782-6811
Three Rivers Hospice West	Mount Vernon, MO	38 mi	(417) 461-0580
Regional Hospice	Springfield, MO	57 mi	(417) 832-0577

Straight-line miles from the center of Lamar. 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 Lamar

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $2,785 monthly median income of Lamar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Lamar: common questions

What nursing homes are near Lamar?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Truman Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Lamar (1.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Good Shepherd Community Care And Rehabilitation in Lockwood (19 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Arma Operator, LLC in Arma (23 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Lamar?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 49% of the $2,785 monthly median income of Lamar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Lamar

More senior care near Lamar

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lamar

More for Lamar 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 Lamar, MO