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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Medford, WI: the local picture

231

residents 85 or older (5.2% of all residents)

1,084

residents 65 or older (24% of Medford)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Taylor County)

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Medford has about 231 residents aged 85 or older among 1,084 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.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Taylor County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

45% of older Medford 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.

Medford compared with Taylor County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Medford	Taylor County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	5.2%	3.0%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	24%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	28%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.7%	9.6%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	2.9%	5.6%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,672	$43,797	—

Older residents in towns around Medford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Merrill, WI	31 mi	2,041	347
Stanley, WI	32 mi	554	115
Maine, WI	33 mi	519	61
Marshfield, WI	34 mi	4,324	737
Wausau, WI	36 mi	7,741	1,120
Rib Mountain, WI	36 mi	1,821	110

Nursing homes near Medford

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Aspirus Care & Rehab-Medford	Medford, WI	0.5 mi	5 of 5	50	(715) 748-8100
Abbotsford Health Care Center	Abbotsford, WI	13 mi	1 of 5	78	(715) 223-2359
Rib Lake Health Services	Rib Lake, WI	14 mi	3 of 5	50	(715) 427-5291
Colonial Health Services	Colby, WI	15 mi	2 of 5	70	(715) 223-2352
Clark County Rehabilitation & Living Center	Owen, WI	16 mi	3 of 5	172	(715) 229-2172

Hospices serving Medford

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hope Hospice And Palliative Care	Medford, WI	1.1 mi	(715) 748-3434
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	33 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	33 mi	(715) 847-2424
St Croix Hospice Wausau	Wausau, WI	33 mi	(715) 318-6607

Straight-line miles from the center of Medford. 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 Medford

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 47% of the $3,223 monthly median income of Medford 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 Medford: common questions

What nursing homes are near Medford?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Aspirus Care & Rehab-Medford in Medford (0.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Abbotsford Health Care Center in Abbotsford (13 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Rib Lake Health Services in Rib Lake (14 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Medford?

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 47% of the $3,223 monthly median income of Medford 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 Medford

More senior care near Medford

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Medford

More for Medford 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 Medford, WI