Dementia Care in Perham, MN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Perham, MN: the local picture

193

residents 85 or older (5.3% of all residents)

872

residents 65 or older (24% of Perham)

47%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Perham has about 193 residents aged 85 or older among 872 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.

47% 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.

32% of older Perham 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.

Perham compared with Otter Tail County and Minnesota

Census figure	Perham	Otter Tail County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	5.3%	3.2%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	24%	25%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	28%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	8.4%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	4.6%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,833	$53,778	—

Older residents in towns around Perham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Detroit Lakes, MN	19 mi	2,539	376
Wadena, MN	24 mi	803	185
Pelican Rapids, MN	24 mi	444	108
Fergus Falls, MN	32 mi	3,663	884
Park Rapids, MN	33 mi	1,210	287
Barnesville, MN	40 mi	359	57

Nursing homes near Perham

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Perham Living	Perham, MN	0.3 mi	5 of 5	96	(218) 347-1800
Frazee Care Center	Frazee, MN	11 mi	5 of 5	42	(218) 334-4501
Emmanuel Nursing Home	Detroit Lakes, MN	19 mi	3 of 5	57	(218) 847-4486
Essentia Health Oak Crossing	Detroit Lakes, MN	19 mi	5 of 5	84	(218) 844-0700
Good Samaritan Society - Battle Lake	Battle Lake, MN	22 mi	5 of 5	51	(218) 864-5231
Pelican Valley Health Center	Pelican Rapids, MN	24 mi	5 of 5	28	(218) 863-2991

Hospices serving Perham

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St. Joseph's Hospice	Park Rapids, MN	35 mi	(218) 732-4552
Vivie Hospice	Alexandria, MN	51 mi	(320) 759-1275
Moments Hospice Of Alexandria LLC	Alexandria, MN	51 mi	(877) 666-3687
Hia Hospice	Fargo, ND	61 mi	(701) 356-1500

Straight-line miles from the center of Perham. 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 Perham

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 42% of the $3,819 monthly median income of Perham 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 Perham: common questions

What nursing homes are near Perham?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Perham Living in Perham (0.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Frazee Care Center in Frazee (11 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes (19 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Perham?

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 42% of the $3,819 monthly median income of Perham 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 Perham

More senior care near Perham

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Perham

More for Perham 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 Perham, MN