Dementia Care in Madison, WI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Madison, WI: the local picture

4,039

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

36,240

residents 65 or older (13% of Madison)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Dane County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Madison has about 4,039 residents aged 85 or older among 36,240 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.

24% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Dane County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% of older Madison 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.

Madison compared with Dane County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Madison	Dane County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	13%	15%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.2%	6.0%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	12%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,643	$72,639	—

Older residents in towns around Madison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Middleton, WI	4.1 mi	3,967	404
Monona, WI	5.4 mi	1,869	157
Waunakee, WI	6.6 mi	2,292	264
Fitchburg, WI	7.1 mi	4,966	390
Verona, WI	8.7 mi	2,158	442
McFarland, WI	8.8 mi	1,488	142

Nursing homes near Madison

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Capitol Lakes Health Center	Madison, WI	2.4 mi	4 of 5	49	(608) 283-2000
Middleton Village Nursing And Rehab	Middleton, WI	3.1 mi	1 of 5	97	(608) 831-8300
Oak Park Place Of Nakoma	Madison, WI	3.5 mi	3 of 5	33	(608) 640-4100
Hebron Oaks	Madison, WI	5.1 mi	4 of 5	70	(608) 230-4000
Madison Health And Rehabilitation Center	Madison, WI	5.9 mi	1 of 5	83	(608) 249-7391
Complete Care At Maple Grove LLC	Madison, WI	6.3 mi	1 of 5	184	(608) 845-1000

Hospices serving Madison

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	3.8 mi	(608) 276-4660
Interim Healthcare Of WI Madison	Madison, WI	3.9 mi	(608) 238-0268
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	3.9 mi	(608) 960-7699
Brighton Hospice Madison	Middleton, WI	4.1 mi	(608) 820-1646

Straight-line miles from the center of Madison. 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 Madison

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,137 monthly median income of Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a 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 Madison: common questions

What nursing homes are near Madison?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Capitol Lakes Health Center in Madison (2.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Middleton Village Nursing And Rehab in Middleton (3.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Oak Park Place Of Nakoma in Madison (3.5 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Madison?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,137 monthly median income of Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Madison

More senior care near Madison

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Madison

More for Madison 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 Madison, WI