Dementia Care in Scranton, PA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Scranton, PA: the local picture

2,002

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

14,452

residents 65 or older (19% of Scranton)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Lackawanna County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Scranton has about 2,002 residents aged 85 or older among 14,452 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.

35% of residents 65 and older report a disability (34% in Lackawanna County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

39% of older Scranton 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.

Scranton compared with Lackawanna County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Scranton	Lackawanna County	Pennsylvania
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.8%	2.4%
Residents 65 or older	19%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	35%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	13%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	19%	10%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,922	$47,340	—

Older residents in towns around Scranton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Taylor, PA	2.6 mi	1,134	131
Dunmore, PA	3.2 mi	2,950	446
Moosic, PA	3.9 mi	1,317	306
Throop, PA	4.5 mi	866	87
Old Forge, PA	4.5 mi	2,099	281
Dickson City, PA	4.7 mi	1,319	235

Nursing homes near Scranton

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Gino J Merli Veterans Center	Scranton, PA	0.5 mi	5 of 5	196	(570) 961-4300
Elan Skilled Nursing And Rehab, A Jewish Senior Li	Scranton, PA	0.7 mi	1 of 5	145	(570) 344-6177
Embassy Of Scranton	Scranton, PA	0.9 mi	1 of 5	139	(570) 346-5704
Linwood Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Scranton, PA	0.9 mi	1 of 5	102	(570) 346-7381
Dunmore Health Care Center	Dunmore, PA	2.0 mi	3 of 5	92	(570) 342-7624
Scranton Health Care Center	Scranton, PA	2.2 mi	4 of 5	44	(570) 341-6676

Hospices serving Scranton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of The Sacred Heart	Moosic, PA	3.5 mi	(570) 706-2400
Residential Healthcare Of NE Pa, LLC	Moosic, PA	3.5 mi	(888) 923-5842
Traditional Hospice	Dunmore, PA	3.6 mi	(570) 207-9286
Home Health Care Professionals And Hospice	Olyphant, PA	5.5 mi	(570) 876-2900

Straight-line miles from the center of Scranton. 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 Scranton

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,327 monthly median income of Scranton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Scranton: common questions

What nursing homes are near Scranton?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Gino J Merli Veterans Center in Scranton (0.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Elan Skilled Nursing And Rehab, A Jewish Senior Li in Scranton (0.7 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Embassy Of Scranton in Scranton (0.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Scranton?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,327 monthly median income of Scranton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Scranton

More senior care near Scranton

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Scranton

More for Scranton 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 Scranton, PA