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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Ottawa, KS: the local picture

289

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

1,889

residents 65 or older (15% of Ottawa)

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Franklin County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Ottawa has about 289 residents aged 85 or older among 1,889 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.

46% of residents 65 and older report a disability (41% in Franklin County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older Ottawa 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.

Ottawa compared with Franklin County and Kansas

Census figure	Ottawa	Franklin County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	41%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.4%	14%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.1%	3.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,167	$56,990	—

Older residents in towns around Ottawa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Baldwin City, KS	13 mi	626	58
Osawatomie, KS	18 mi	553	15
Garnett, KS	22 mi	633	141
Paola, KS	22 mi	1,363	246
Gardner, KS	23 mi	2,049	112
Lawrence, KS	25 mi	12,171	1,122

Nursing homes near Ottawa

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rock Creek Of Ottawa	Ottawa, KS	1.1 mi	3 of 5	75	(785) 242-5399
Wellsville Manor	Wellsville, KS	13 mi	3 of 5	51	(785) 883-4101
Baldwin Healthcare & Rehab Center, LLC	Baldwin City, KS	13 mi	5 of 5	60	(785) 594-6492
Richmond Healthcare & Rehab Center	Richmond, KS	14 mi	1 of 5	60	(785) 835-6135
Brookside Retirement Community	Overbrook, KS	20 mi	5 of 5	60	(785) 665-7124
North Point Skilled Nursing Center	Paola, KS	21 mi	4 of 5	53	(913) 294-4308

Hospices serving Ottawa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Visiting Nurses Hospice	Lawrence, KS	30 mi	(785) 843-3738
Hospice The University Of Kansas Health System	Olathe, KS	31 mi	(913) 324-8515
Good Shepherd Hospice Of Mid America Inc	Olathe, KS	31 mi	(913) 322-3297
Acg Hospice	Overland Park, KS	36 mi	(864) 913-2690

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottawa. 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 Ottawa

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 24% of the $5,347 monthly median income of Ottawa 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 Ottawa: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ottawa?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Rock Creek Of Ottawa in Ottawa (1.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Wellsville Manor in Wellsville (13 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Baldwin Healthcare & Rehab Center, LLC in Baldwin City (13 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Ottawa?

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 24% of the $5,347 monthly median income of Ottawa 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 Ottawa

More senior care near Ottawa

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ottawa

More for Ottawa 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 Ottawa, KS