Dementia Care in Osage, IA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Osage, IA: the local picture

108

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

897

residents 65 or older (25% of Osage)

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Mitchell County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Osage has about 108 residents aged 85 or older among 897 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.

30% of residents 65 and older report a disability (29% in Mitchell County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

28% of older Osage 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.

Osage compared with Mitchell County and Iowa

Census figure	Osage	Mitchell County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	3.0%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	25%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.6%	12%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.9%	6.5%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,200	$50,551	—

Older residents in towns around Osage

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Charles City, IA	17 mi	1,702	388
Mason City, IA	22 mi	6,215	830
Austin, MN	28 mi	4,489	697
New Hampton, IA	30 mi	695	107
Clear Lake, IA	30 mi	2,089	284
Cresco, IA	35 mi	828	99

Nursing homes near Osage

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Osage Rehab And Health Care Center	Osage, IA	0.4 mi	1 of 5	46	(641) 732-5520
Faith Lutheran Home	Osage, IA	0.4 mi	4 of 5	50	(641) 732-5511
Good Samaritan - Saint Ansgar	Saint Ansgar, IA	8.3 mi	5 of 5	42	(641) 713-4912
Stacyville Community Nursing Home	Stacyville, IA	10 mi	3 of 5	34	(641) 710-2215
Riceville Family Care And Therapy Center	Riceville, IA	14 mi	5 of 5	34	(641) 985-2606
Nora Springs Care Center	Nora Springs, IA	14 mi	3 of 5	50	(641) 749-5331

Hospices serving Osage

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice	Charles City, IA	16 mi	(641) 394-2700
Mercyone North Iowa Hospice	Mason City, IA	21 mi	(641) 428-6268
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	56 mi	(319) 232-6148
Lee County Health Department	Fort Madison, IA	198 mi	(319) 372-5225

Straight-line miles from the center of Osage. 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 Osage

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,517 monthly median income of Osage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Osage: common questions

What nursing homes are near Osage?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Osage Rehab And Health Care Center in Osage (0.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Faith Lutheran Home in Osage (0.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Good Samaritan - Saint Ansgar in Saint Ansgar (8.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Osage?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,517 monthly median income of Osage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Osage

More senior care near Osage

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Osage

More for Osage 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 Osage, IA