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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Saylorville, IA: the local picture

17

residents 85 or older (0.5% of all residents)

705

residents 65 or older (21% of Saylorville)

47%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Saylorville has about 17 residents aged 85 or older among 705 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.

47% 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 Saylorville 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.

Saylorville compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Saylorville	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	0.5%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	21%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.1%	7.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	9.1%	15%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,063	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Saylorville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Ankeny, IA	3.7 mi	8,466	858
Johnston, IA	5.1 mi	3,741	475
Windsor Heights, IA	6.9 mi	985	125
Des Moines, IA	7.5 mi	27,045	3,313
Altoona, IA	7.9 mi	3,684	311
Pleasant Hill, IA	8.5 mi	2,222	146

Nursing homes near Saylorville

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
On With Life	Ankeny, IA	1.6 mi	4 of 5	28	(515) 965-1339
Sunny View Care Center	Ankeny, IA	2.7 mi	2 of 5	94	(515) 964-1101
The Bridges At Ankeny	Ankeny, IA	2.7 mi	3 of 5	100	(515) 963-9815
Mill-Pond	Ankeny, IA	3.8 mi	5 of 5	60	(515) 964-2273
Bishop Drumm Retirement Center	Johnston, IA	3.9 mi	1 of 5	150	(515) 270-1100
Childserve Habilitation Center	Johnston, IA	3.9 mi	5 of 5	74	(515) 270-2205

Hospices serving Saylorville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	3.9 mi	(515) 218-2143
St Croix Hospice	Ankeny, IA	4.1 mi	(515) 276-2700
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	6.1 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	6.1 mi	(515) 557-3100

Straight-line miles from the center of Saylorville. 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 Saylorville

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 28% of the $5,339 monthly median income of Saylorville 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 Saylorville: common questions

What nursing homes are near Saylorville?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are On With Life in Ankeny (1.6 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Sunny View Care Center in Ankeny (2.7 mi, 2 of 5 overall); The Bridges At Ankeny in Ankeny (2.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Saylorville?

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 28% of the $5,339 monthly median income of Saylorville 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 Saylorville

More senior care near Saylorville

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Saylorville

More for Saylorville 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 Saylorville, IA