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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Oskaloosa, IA: the local picture

306

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

2,347

residents 65 or older (20% of Oskaloosa)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Mahaska County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Oskaloosa has about 306 residents aged 85 or older among 2,347 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 (34% in Mahaska County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

26% of older Oskaloosa 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.

Oskaloosa compared with Mahaska County and Iowa

Census figure	Oskaloosa	Mahaska County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.0%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	34%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	26%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.0%	6.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.7%	3.5%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,023	$50,470	—

Older residents in towns around Oskaloosa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Pella, IA	16 mi	2,017	360
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	204
Ottumwa, IA	22 mi	4,107	773
Knoxville, IA	24 mi	1,720	484
Grinnell, IA	31 mi	2,034	290
Newton, IA	35 mi	3,381	699

Nursing homes near Oskaloosa

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Crystal Heights Care Center	Oskaloosa, IA	1.1 mi	3 of 5	72	(641) 673-7032
Oskaloosa Care Center	Oskaloosa, IA	1.4 mi	1 of 5	83	(641) 676-3414
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care	Oskaloosa, IA	1.6 mi	3 of 5	79	(641) 673-3000
The Cottages	Pella, IA	17 mi	1 of 5	100	(641) 628-1244
Montezuma Specialty Care	Montezuma, IA	21 mi	3 of 5	41	(641) 219-4330
Oakwood Specialty Care	Albia, IA	21 mi	4 of 5	54	(641) 932-7105

Hospices serving Oskaloosa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Services	Oskaloosa, IA	0.2 mi	(641) 672-3140
Hospice Of Pella, The Comfort House	Pella, IA	16 mi	(641) 628-6644
Care Initiatives Hospice - Albia	Albia, IA	20 mi	(641) 932-3488
Good Samaritan Society Home Care And Hospice	Ottumwa, IA	22 mi	(641) 684-9309

Straight-line miles from the center of Oskaloosa. 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 Oskaloosa

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 36% of the $4,169 monthly median income of Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa: common questions

What nursing homes are near Oskaloosa?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa (1.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa (1.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa (1.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Oskaloosa?

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 36% of the $4,169 monthly median income of Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa

More senior care near Oskaloosa

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Oskaloosa

More for Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa, IA