Dementia Care in Merriam, KS: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Merriam, KS: the local picture

142

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

2,070

residents 65 or older (19% of Merriam)

23%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Merriam has about 142 residents aged 85 or older among 2,070 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.

23% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Johnson County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

38% of older Merriam 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.

Merriam compared with Johnson County and Kansas

Census figure	Merriam	Johnson County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	19%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	23%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	5.6%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$62,614	$77,643	—

Older residents in towns around Merriam

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Mission, KS	2.1 mi	1,917	207
Roeland Park, KS	3.3 mi	1,080	146
Fairway, KS	3.5 mi	510	112
Prairie Village, KS	3.8 mi	5,101	851
Mission Hills, KS	4.1 mi	856	48
Shawnee, KS	6.0 mi	10,385	904

Nursing homes near Merriam

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Merriam Gardens Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center	Merriam, KS	0.3 mi	2 of 5	120	(913) 384-0800
Sharon Lane Health And Rehabilitation	Shawnee, KS	0.7 mi	5 of 5	78	(913) 631-8200
Shawnee Post Acute Rehabilitation Center	Overland Park, KS	1.9 mi	2 of 5	101	(913) 383-2001
Brookdale Rosehill	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	5 of 5	92	(913) 962-7600
Garden Terrace At Overland Park	Overland Park, KS	2.4 mi	1 of 5	163	(913) 631-2273
Aspen Health And Wellness	Overland Park, KS	2.4 mi	1 of 5	102	(913) 367-1906

Hospices serving Merriam

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Care Of Vna	Overland Park, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 888-4596
Phoenix Home Care And Hospice	Overland Park, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 384-2273
Monarch Hospice & Palliative Care	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	(913) 730-8080
Prairie Wind Hospice LLC	Shawnee, KS	2.2 mi	(785) 202-8900

Straight-line miles from the center of Merriam. 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 Merriam

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,218 monthly median income of Merriam households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 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 Merriam: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merriam?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Merriam Gardens Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Merriam (0.3 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Sharon Lane Health And Rehabilitation in Shawnee (0.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Shawnee Post Acute Rehabilitation Center in Overland Park (1.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Merriam?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $5,218 monthly median income of Merriam households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Merriam

More senior care near Merriam

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merriam

More for Merriam 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 Merriam, KS