Dementia Care in Santa Claus, IN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Santa Claus, IN: the local picture

36

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

615

residents 65 or older (22% of Santa Claus)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Spencer County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Santa Claus has about 36 residents aged 85 or older among 615 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.

27% of residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Spencer County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

17% of older Santa Claus 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.

Santa Claus compared with Spencer County and Indiana

Census figure	Santa Claus	Spencer County	Indiana
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.8%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	22%	21%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	32%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	17%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	11%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.7%	3.5%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,036	$49,415	—

Older residents in towns around Santa Claus

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Huntingburg, IN	13 mi	838	116
Tell City, IN	15 mi	1,637	277
Jasper, IN	19 mi	3,119	448
Boonville, IN	20 mi	1,399	195
Thruston, KY	23 mi	271	0
Chandler, IN	25 mi	316	1

Nursing homes near Santa Claus

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Core Of Dale	Dale, IN	5.4 mi	not rated	52	(812) 937-7073
Willowdale Village	Dale, IN	5.4 mi	5 of 5	50	(812) 937-4489
Scenic Hills At The Monastery	Ferdinand, IN	8.4 mi	3 of 5	88	(812) 504-2048
Heartland Villa Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Lewisport, KY	13 mi	3 of 5	45	(270) 295-6756
Waters Of Huntingburg, The	Huntingburg, IN	14 mi	2 of 5	95	(812) 683-4090
Oakwood Health Campus	Tell City, IN	15 mi	4 of 5	98	(812) 547-2333

Hospices serving Santa Claus

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart To Heart Hospice Of Southwest Indiana LLC	Jasper, IN	17 mi	(812) 482-2012
St. Croix Hospice	Newburgh, IN	28 mi	(812) 250-9094
Gentiva I	Evansville, IN	32 mi	(812) 476-8990

Straight-line miles from the center of Santa Claus. 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 Santa Claus

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,670 monthly median income of Santa Claus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Santa Claus: common questions

What nursing homes are near Santa Claus?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Core Of Dale in Dale (5.4 mi, not rated overall); Willowdale Village in Dale (5.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Scenic Hills At The Monastery in Ferdinand (8.4 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Santa Claus?

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,670 monthly median income of Santa Claus households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana'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 Santa Claus

More senior care near Santa Claus

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Santa Claus

More for Santa Claus 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 Santa Claus, IN