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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Polk City, IA: the local picture

29

residents 85 or older (0.5% of all residents)

874

residents 65 or older (14% of Polk City)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Polk City has about 29 residents aged 85 or older among 874 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.

24% of residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Polk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

14% of older Polk City 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.

Polk City compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Polk City	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	14%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.0%	7.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.0%	15%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$74,417	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Polk City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Johnston, IA	6.2 mi	3,741	475
Ankeny, IA	7.2 mi	8,466	858
Madrid, IA	8.2 mi	566	146
Grimes, IA	8.3 mi	1,199	99
Saylorville, IA	8.6 mi	705	17
Huxley, IA	10 mi	525	29

Nursing homes near Polk City

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
On With Life Long Term Care	Polk City, IA	0.7 mi	5 of 5	40	(515) 421-9200
Granger Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Granger, IA	5.6 mi	3 of 5	67	(515) 999-2588
Sunny View Care Center	Ankeny, IA	6.7 mi	2 of 5	94	(515) 964-1101
The Bridges At Ankeny	Ankeny, IA	6.7 mi	3 of 5	100	(515) 963-9815
Brio Of Johnston, LLC	Johnston, IA	6.7 mi	3 of 5	36	(515) 253-2501
Kennybrook Village	Grimes, IA	7.8 mi	3 of 5	40	(515) 369-3900

Hospices serving Polk City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	7.6 mi	(515) 218-2143
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	9.0 mi	(515) 276-2700
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	11 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	11 mi	(515) 557-3100

Straight-line miles from the center of Polk City. 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 Polk City

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 24% of the $6,201 monthly median income of Polk City 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 Polk City: common questions

What nursing homes are near Polk City?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are On With Life Long Term Care in Polk City (0.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Granger Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Granger (5.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny (6.7 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Polk City?

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 24% of the $6,201 monthly median income of Polk City 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 Polk City

More senior care near Polk City

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Polk City

More for Polk City 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 Polk City, IA