Dementia Care in Poteau, OK: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Poteau, OK: the local picture

168

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

1,451

residents 65 or older (16% of Poteau)

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (45% in Le Flore County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Poteau has about 168 residents aged 85 or older among 1,451 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.

43% of residents 65 and older report a disability (45% in Le Flore County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

40% of older Poteau 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.

Poteau compared with Le Flore County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Poteau	Le Flore County	Oklahoma
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.4%	1.6%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	45%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	13%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	6.5%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,552	$41,884	—

Older residents in towns around Poteau

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Heavener, OK	12 mi	426	53
Pocola, OK	15 mi	924	81
Greenwood, AR	23 mi	1,906	225
Muldrow, OK	23 mi	509	56
Fort Smith, AR	24 mi	14,381	1,843
Roland, OK	25 mi	411	60

Nursing homes near Poteau

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Oaks Healthcare Center	Poteau, OK	1.5 mi	1 of 5	158	(918) 647-8236
Spiro Nursing Home, Inc.	Spiro, OK	12 mi	4 of 5	95	(918) 962-2308
Heavener Nursing & Rehab	Heavener, OK	12 mi	1 of 5	84	(918) 653-2464
Pocola Health And Rehab	Pocola, OK	16 mi	1 of 5	90	(918) 436-2228
Fianna Hills Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Fort Smith, AR	20 mi	3 of 5	102	(479) 648-9600
Brooken Hill Health And Rehab, LLC	Fort Smith, AR	20 mi	3 of 5	125	(479) 409-2450

Hospices serving Poteau

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Hospice, LLC	Poteau, OK	0.4 mi	(918) 647-7008
Heart Of Hospice, LLC	Fort Smith, AR	23 mi	(479) 494-0100
Mercy Hospice	Fort Smith, AR	23 mi	(479) 314-1150
Cura-Hpc Eastok, LLC	Sallisaw, OK	30 mi	(918) 571-9920

Straight-line miles from the center of Poteau. 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 Poteau

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,546 monthly median income of Poteau households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Poteau: common questions

What nursing homes are near Poteau?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Oaks Healthcare Center in Poteau (1.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Spiro Nursing Home, Inc. in Spiro (12 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Heavener Nursing & Rehab in Heavener (12 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Poteau?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,546 monthly median income of Poteau households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Poteau

More senior care near Poteau

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Poteau

More for Poteau 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 Poteau, OK