In-Home Dementia Care in Pelican Rapids, MN

Local figures

Dementia Care in Pelican Rapids, MN: the local picture

108

residents 85 or older (4.2% of all residents)

444

residents 65 or older (17% of Pelican Rapids)

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (28% in Otter Tail County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Pelican Rapids has about 108 residents aged 85 or older among 444 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.

26% of residents 65 and older report a disability (28% in Otter Tail County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

34% of older Pelican Rapids 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.

Pelican Rapids compared with Otter Tail County and Minnesota

Census figure	Pelican Rapids	Otter Tail County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	4.2%	3.2%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	17%	25%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	28%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	28%	8.4%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	35%	4.6%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$20,484	$53,778	—

Older residents in towns around Pelican Rapids

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Barnesville, MN	17 mi	359	57
Fergus Falls, MN	20 mi	3,663	884
Detroit Lakes, MN	20 mi	2,539	376
Perham, MN	24 mi	872	193
Breckenridge, MN	32 mi	667	231
Wahpeton, ND	32 mi	1,557	158

Nursing homes near Pelican Rapids

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pelican Valley Health Center	Pelican Rapids, MN	0.5 mi	5 of 5	28	(218) 863-2991
Valley Care And Rehab LLC	Barnesville, MN	16 mi	5 of 5	35	(218) 354-2254
MN Veterans Home-Fergus Falls	Fergus Falls, MN	19 mi	4 of 5	85	(218) 736-0400
Emmanuel Nursing Home	Detroit Lakes, MN	20 mi	3 of 5	57	(218) 847-4486
Essentia Health Oak Crossing	Detroit Lakes, MN	20 mi	5 of 5	84	(218) 844-0700
Lb Broen Home	Fergus Falls, MN	20 mi	2 of 5	74	(218) 998-7300

Hospices serving Pelican Rapids

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Ethos Hospice	Fargo, ND	39 mi	(701) 356-3803
Hia Hospice	Fargo, ND	39 mi	(701) 356-1500
Sanford Fargo Hospice	Fargo, ND	43 mi	(701) 234-7550
Vivie Hospice	Alexandria, MN	58 mi	(320) 759-1275

Straight-line miles from the center of Pelican Rapids. 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 Pelican Rapids

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 94% of the $1,707 monthly median income of Pelican Rapids households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Pelican Rapids: common questions

What nursing homes are near Pelican Rapids?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Pelican Valley Health Center in Pelican Rapids (0.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Valley Care And Rehab LLC in Barnesville (16 mi, 5 of 5 overall); MN Veterans Home-Fergus Falls in Fergus Falls (19 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Pelican Rapids?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 94% of the $1,707 monthly median income of Pelican Rapids households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 Pelican Rapids

More senior care near Pelican Rapids

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Pelican Rapids

More for Pelican Rapids 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 Pelican Rapids, MN