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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Tama, IA: the local picture

76

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

496

residents 65 or older (16% of Tama)

19%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Tama County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Tama has about 76 residents aged 85 or older among 496 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.

19% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Tama County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

23% of older Tama 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.

Tama compared with Tama County and Iowa

Census figure	Tama	Tama County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	3.3%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	16%	21%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	27%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	9.6%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	27%	11%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,574	$51,037	—

Older residents in towns around Tama

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Grinnell, IA	18 mi	2,034	290
Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	4,563	698
Marengo, IA	29 mi	577	72
Grundy Center, IA	29 mi	629	150
Newton, IA	30 mi	3,381	699
Vinton, IA	31 mi	1,156	173

Nursing homes near Tama

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sunny Hill Care Center	Tama, IA	0.8 mi	1 of 5	57	(641) 484-4061
Accura Healthcare Of Toledo	Toledo, IA	1.7 mi	3 of 5	55	(641) 484-5080
Sunrise Hill Care Center	Traer, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	76	(319) 478-2730
Belle Plaine Specialty Care	Belle Plaine, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	46	(319) 444-2500
Westbrook Acres	Gladbrook, IA	17 mi	2 of 5	54	(641) 473-2016
St Francis Manor	Grinnell, IA	17 mi	5 of 5	78	(641) 236-7592

Hospices serving Tama

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Iowa River Hospice	Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	(641) 753-7704
Essence Of Life Hospice	Amana, IA	37 mi	(319) 622-3195
Hospice Compassus - Northeast Iowa	Cedar Rapids, IA	46 mi	(319) 362-2500
Hospice Of Mercy	Hiawatha, IA	46 mi	(319) 398-6496

Straight-line miles from the center of Tama. 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 Tama

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 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama 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 Tama: common questions

What nursing homes are near Tama?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama (0.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Accura Healthcare Of Toledo in Toledo (1.7 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer (17 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Tama?

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 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama 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 Tama

More senior care near Tama

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tama

More for Tama 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 Tama, IA