Dementia Care in Merrillville, IN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Merrillville, IN: the local picture

796

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

7,540

residents 65 or older (21% of Merrillville)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Lake County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Merrillville has about 796 residents aged 85 or older among 7,540 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 (32% in Lake County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

41% of older Merrillville 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.

Merrillville compared with Lake County and Indiana

Census figure	Merrillville	Lake County	Indiana
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	2.0%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	32%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	11%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	11%	15%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,614	$53,273	—

Older residents in towns around Merrillville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hobart, IN	3.6 mi	4,478	489
Crown Point, IN	4.6 mi	6,282	890
Winfield, IN	5.1 mi	970	82
Ross, IN	5.2 mi	1,051	122
Schererville, IN	6.5 mi	6,515	759
Griffith, IN	6.7 mi	2,974	186

Nursing homes near Merrillville

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lincolnshire Health & Rehabilitation Center	Merrillville, IN	0.7 mi	1 of 5	100	(219) 769-9009
Brickyard Healthcare - Merrillville Care Center	Merrillville, IN	1.2 mi	1 of 5	164	(219) 736-1310
Spring Mill Health Campus	Merrillville, IN	1.3 mi	1 of 5	64	(219) 756-0744
Casa Of Hobart	Hobart, IN	3.9 mi	1 of 5	138	(219) 947-1507
Colonial Nursing Home	Crown Point, IN	4.2 mi	2 of 5	55	(219) 663-2532
Waters Of Hobart Skilled Nursing Facility, The	Hobart, IN	5.6 mi	1 of 5	110	(219) 942-2170

Hospices serving Merrillville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Unity Hospice Of Northwest Indiana LLC	Merrillville, IN	2.3 mi	(219) 769-8648
Traditions Health	Crown Point, IN	3.9 mi	(219) 661-3100
Transitions Crown Point, LLC	Crown Point, IN	3.9 mi	(317) 954-6600
Providence Hospice, Inc	Saint John, IN	8.4 mi	(800) 509-2800

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrillville. 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 Merrillville

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,218 monthly median income of Merrillville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Merrillville: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merrillville?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Lincolnshire Health & Rehabilitation Center in Merrillville (0.7 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Brickyard Healthcare - Merrillville Care Center in Merrillville (1.2 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Spring Mill Health Campus in Merrillville (1.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Merrillville?

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,218 monthly median income of Merrillville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Merrillville

More senior care near Merrillville

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merrillville

More for Merrillville 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 Merrillville, IN