Dementia Care in St. Joseph, MN: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in St. Joseph, MN: the local picture

117

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

787

residents 65 or older (11% of St. Joseph)

24%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

St. Joseph has about 117 residents aged 85 or older among 787 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.

24% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Stearns County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older St. Joseph 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.

St. Joseph compared with Stearns County and Minnesota

Census figure	St. Joseph	Stearns County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	11%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	24%	11%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	18%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,188	$52,464	—

Older residents in towns around St. Joseph

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Waite Park, MN	4.2 mi	1,523	295
Sartell, MN	5.7 mi	2,993	444
St. Cloud, MN	6.9 mi	9,413	1,215
Sauk Rapids, MN	7.5 mi	1,713	357
St. Augusta, MN	9.5 mi	418	26
Cold Spring, MN	9.6 mi	847	249

Nursing homes near St. Joseph

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sterling Park Health Care Center	Waite Park, MN	4.2 mi	2 of 5	40	(320) 252-9595
Country Manor Healthcare And Rehab Center	Sartell, MN	6.5 mi	5 of 5	131	(320) 253-1920
Good Shepherd Lutheran Home	Sauk Rapids, MN	6.7 mi	5 of 5	146	(320) 252-6525
Edenbrook Of St Cloud	Saint Cloud, MN	8.5 mi	3 of 5	77	(320) 251-9120
St Benedicts Care Center	Saint Cloud, MN	8.7 mi	3 of 5	75	(320) 252-0010
Assumption Home	Cold Spring, MN	9.8 mi	5 of 5	76	(320) 685-3693

Hospices serving St. Joseph

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Centracare Hospice	Waite Park, MN	3.9 mi	(320) 259-9375
Moments Hospice	Saint Cloud, MN	6.0 mi	(320) 372-4300
St Croix Hospice	St. Cloud, MN	6.0 mi	(320) 201-5930
Vivie Hospice	Alexandria, MN	57 mi	(320) 759-1275

Straight-line miles from the center of St. Joseph. 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 St. Joseph

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,932 monthly median income of St. Joseph households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 St. Joseph: common questions

What nursing homes are near St. Joseph?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Sterling Park Health Care Center in Waite Park (4.2 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Country Manor Healthcare And Rehab Center in Sartell (6.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids (6.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in St. Joseph?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,932 monthly median income of St. Joseph households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 St. Joseph

More senior care near St. Joseph

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. Joseph

More for St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph, MN