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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Merrill, WI: the local picture

347

residents 85 or older (3.7% of all residents)

2,041

residents 65 or older (22% of Merrill)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Lincoln County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Merrill has about 347 residents aged 85 or older among 2,041 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.

35% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Lincoln County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% of older Merrill 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.

Merrill compared with Lincoln County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Merrill	Lincoln County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	2.9%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	24%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	12%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.5%	2.4%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,153	$51,661	—

Older residents in towns around Merrill

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Maine, WI	8.5 mi	519	61
Wausau, WI	15 mi	7,741	1,120
Rib Mountain, WI	20 mi	1,821	110
Tomahawk, WI	21 mi	659	99
Weston, WI	21 mi	3,060	555
Rothschild, WI	22 mi	999	113

Nursing homes near Merrill

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pine Crest Health And Memory Care	Merrill, WI	1.4 mi	3 of 5	120	(715) 536-0355
Wood Aven Health And Rehabilitation	Wausau, WI	14 mi	3 of 5	82	(715) 675-9451
Wausau Manor Health Services	Wausau, WI	15 mi	4 of 5	68	(715) 842-0575
Amethyst Health Of Wausau	Wausau, WI	15 mi	1 of 5	80	(715) 842-2028
North Central Health Care	Wausau, WI	16 mi	2 of 5	159	(715) 841-5178
Tomahawk Health Services	Tomahawk, WI	20 mi	2 of 5	50	(715) 453-2164

Hospices serving Merrill

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	15 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	15 mi	(715) 847-2424
St Croix Hospice Wausau	Wausau, WI	15 mi	(715) 318-6607
Le Royer Hospice	Antigo, WI	27 mi	(715) 623-2331

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrill. 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 Merrill

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 49% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Merrill 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 Merrill: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merrill?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Pine Crest Health And Memory Care in Merrill (1.4 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Wood Aven Health And Rehabilitation in Wausau (14 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Wausau Manor Health Services in Wausau (15 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Merrill?

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 49% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Merrill 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 Merrill

More senior care near Merrill

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merrill

More for Merrill 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 Merrill, WI