Lead, South Dakota

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Lead, SD

Help at home for someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia: steady routines, safety and patience with changes in memory and mood. Post what you need in Lead for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Dementia Care in Lead, SD: the local picture

102
residents 85 or older (3.4% of all residents)
818
residents 65 or older (27% of Lead)
46%
of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Lawrence County)
3
Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Lead has about 102 residents aged 85 or older among 818 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.

46% of residents 65 and older report a disability (33% in Lawrence County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% of older Lead 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.

Lead compared with Lawrence County and South Dakota

Census figureLeadLawrence CountySouth Dakota
Residents 85 or older3.4%2.7%2.1%
Residents 65 or older27%25%18%
Residents 65+ with a disability46%33%31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone35%28%30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)21%12%10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home2.5%4.7%7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$55,577$58,472—

Older residents in towns around Lead

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Spearfish, SD9.9 mi2,676421
Sturgis, SD14 mi1,375187
Belle Fourche, SD22 mi1,117149
Summerset, SD24 mi24829
Blackhawk, SD26 mi55026
Colonial Pine Hills, SD32 mi79313

Nursing homes near Lead

Nursing homeTownDistanceCMS overall ratingCertified bedsPhone
Spearfish Canyon HealthcareSpearfish, SD11 mi2 of 5105(605) 642-2716
Monument Health Sturgis Care CenterSturgis, SD13 mi3 of 540(605) 720-2400
Rolling Hills HealthcareBelle Fourche, SD21 mi1 of 583(605) 892-3331

Hospices serving Lead

HospiceOfficeDistancePhone
Monument Health Home Plus HospiceSpearfish, SD11 mi(605) 644-4444
Heartland Home Health & Hospice LLCBelle Fourche, SD22 mi(605) 723-4663
Monument Health Home Plus HospiceRapid City, SD29 mi(605) 755-7710
Stillwater Hospice Of South DakotaRapid City, SD32 mi(605) 745-4967

Straight-line miles from the center of Lead. 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 Lead

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,631 monthly median income of Lead households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Lead: common questions

What nursing homes are near Lead?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Spearfish Canyon Healthcare in Spearfish (11 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Monument Health Sturgis Care Center in Sturgis (13 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Rolling Hills Healthcare in Belle Fourche (21 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Lead?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,631 monthly median income of Lead households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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.

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.

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