Dementia Care in St. Marys, KS: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in St. Marys, KS: the local picture

46

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

342

residents 65 or older (12% of St. Marys)

29%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

St. Marys has about 46 residents aged 85 or older among 342 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.

29% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Pottawatomie County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

15% of older St. Marys 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. Marys compared with Pottawatomie County and Kansas

Census figure	St. Marys	Pottawatomie County	Kansas
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	12%	15%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	15%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.1%	11%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.9%	2.9%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,167	$55,026	—

Older residents in towns around St. Marys

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Wamego, KS	13 mi	601	78
Topeka, KS	23 mi	23,158	3,097
Holton, KS	26 mi	667	124
Manhattan, KS	29 mi	5,364	667
Fort Riley, KS	41 mi	0	0
Osage City, KS	41 mi	537	88

Nursing homes near St. Marys

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Community Hospital Onaga Ltcu	St Marys, KS	0.4 mi	5 of 5	26	(785) 437-2286
Rossville Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center	Rossville, KS	7.6 mi	1 of 5	81	(785) 584-6104
Good Samaritan - Wamego	Wamego, KS	14 mi	4 of 5	45	(785) 456-9482
Westy Community Care Home	Westmoreland, KS	18 mi	2 of 5	40	(785) 457-2801
The Healthcare Resort Of Topeka	Topeka, KS	18 mi	5 of 5	70	(785) 272-2124
Rolling Hills Health Center	Topeka, KS	19 mi	2 of 5	70	(785) 273-5001

Hospices serving St. Marys

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice	Topeka, KS	21 mi	(785) 256-9632
Midland Care Hospice	Topeka, KS	21 mi	(785) 232-2044
Interim Health Care Of Topeka	Topeka, KS	21 mi	(785) 272-1616
Elara Caring	Topeka, KS	23 mi	(785) 228-0400

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

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,097 monthly median income of St. Marys households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 St. Marys: common questions

What nursing homes are near St. Marys?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Community Hospital Onaga Ltcu in St Marys (0.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Rossville Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center in Rossville (7.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Good Samaritan - Wamego in Wamego (14 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in St. Marys?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,097 monthly median income of St. Marys households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 St. Marys

More senior care near St. Marys

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. Marys

More for St. Marys families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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. Marys, KS