Dementia Care in Ralston, NE: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Ralston, NE: the local picture

133

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

1,048

residents 65 or older (16% of Ralston)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Douglas County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Ralston has about 133 residents aged 85 or older among 1,048 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.

34% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Douglas County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

37% of older Ralston 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.

Ralston compared with Douglas County and Nebraska

Census figure	Ralston	Douglas County	Nebraska
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.4%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.6%	9.2%	9.2%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	19%	17%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,443	$59,518	—

Older residents in towns around Ralston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
La Vista, NE	2.0 mi	1,995	198
Omaha, NE	4.4 mi	70,865	7,208
Papillion, NE	4.4 mi	4,162	383
Chalco, NE	5.2 mi	1,085	53
Bellevue, NE	6.4 mi	9,953	1,135
Offutt AFB, NE	8.2 mi	98	22

Nursing homes near Ralston

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Omaha Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Omaha, NE	2.6 mi	1 of 5	70	(402) 733-7200
Emerald Nursing & Rehabilitation Mercy	Omaha, NE	2.7 mi	1 of 5	174	(402) 397-1220
Emerald Nursing & Rehab Omaha	Omaha, NE	2.7 mi	1 of 5	155	(402) 558-0225
Brookestone Of Papillion	Papillion, NE	3.4 mi	5 of 5	110	(402) 339-7700
Good Samaritan Society - Millard	Omaha, NE	4.1 mi	1 of 5	106	(402) 895-2266
Hillcrest Shadow Lake LLC	Papillion, NE	4.1 mi	1 of 5	114	(402) 339-6010

Hospices serving Ralston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Aegis Hospice	Omaha, NE	1.3 mi	(402) 509-9979
Suncrest Hospice	Omaha, NE	2.4 mi	(402) 509-7655
Chi Health At Home - Omaha	Omaha, NE	2.4 mi	(402) 898-8000
Haven Hospice	Omaha, NE	4.0 mi	(402) 320-3939

Straight-line miles from the center of Ralston. 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 Ralston

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,537 monthly median income of Ralston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Ralston: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ralston?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Omaha Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Omaha (2.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Emerald Nursing & Rehabilitation Mercy in Omaha (2.7 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Emerald Nursing & Rehab Omaha in Omaha (2.7 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Ralston?

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,537 monthly median income of Ralston households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Ralston

More senior care near Ralston

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ralston

More for Ralston 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 Ralston, NE