Dementia Care in Portage, WI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Portage, WI: the local picture

265

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

1,520

residents 65 or older (15% of Portage)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Columbia County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Portage has about 265 residents aged 85 or older among 1,520 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.

38% of residents 65 and older report a disability (25% in Columbia County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

41% of older Portage 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.

Portage compared with Columbia County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Portage	Columbia County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.9%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	25%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	7.7%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.3%	4.5%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,264	$57,885	—

Older residents in towns around Portage

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Poynette, WI	11 mi	379	40
Lake Wisconsin, WI	14 mi	1,234	109
Baraboo, WI	15 mi	2,610	340
Lake Delton, WI	16 mi	781	50
Lodi, WI	17 mi	877	26
Wisconsin Dells, WI	17 mi	555	94

Nursing homes near Portage

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Columbia Health Care Center	Wyocena, WI	8.5 mi	5 of 5	75	(608) 429-2181
Complete Care At Jefferson Meadows LLC	Baraboo, WI	14 mi	3 of 5	102	(608) 356-4838
Wisconsin Dells Health Services	Wisconsin Dells, WI	16 mi	4 of 5	90	(608) 254-2574
Dove Healthcare - Lodi	Lodi, WI	16 mi	3 of 5	50	(608) 592-3241
Montello Care Center	Montello, WI	19 mi	1 of 5	50	(608) 297-2153
Randolph Health Services	Randolph, WI	23 mi	3 of 5	84	(920) 326-3171

Hospices serving Portage

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice Baraboo	Baraboo, WI	15 mi	(608) 448-4200
Ssm Health At Home Hospice	Baraboo, WI	15 mi	(877) 356-4514
Hillside Hospice	Beaver Dam, WI	32 mi	(920) 887-4050
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	33 mi	(608) 819-0033

Straight-line miles from the center of Portage. 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 Portage

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Portage: common questions

What nursing homes are near Portage?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena (8.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Complete Care At Jefferson Meadows LLC in Baraboo (14 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Wisconsin Dells Health Services in Wisconsin Dells (16 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Portage?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Portage

More senior care near Portage

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Portage

More for Portage 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 Portage, WI