Dementia Care in Tonkawa, OK: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Tonkawa, OK: the local picture

85

residents 85 or older (2.8% of all residents)

567

residents 65 or older (19% of Tonkawa)

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Kay County)

4

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Tonkawa has about 85 residents aged 85 or older among 567 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.

42% of residents 65 and older report a disability (38% in Kay County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

56% of older Tonkawa 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.

Tonkawa compared with Kay County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Tonkawa	Kay County	Oklahoma
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.2%	1.6%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	38%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	56%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.1%	12%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.1%	6.0%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,563	$49,025	—

Older residents in towns around Tonkawa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Blackwell, OK	9.1 mi	1,304	158
Ponca City, OK	14 mi	4,312	508
Perry, OK	27 mi	784	149
Arkansas City, KS	32 mi	1,935	321
Enid, OK	36 mi	8,087	1,092
Stillwater, OK	40 mi	5,127	534

Nursing homes near Tonkawa

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Hillcrest Manor Nursing Center	Blackwell, OK	8.5 mi	2 of 5	137	(580) 363-3244
Ponca City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Ponca City, OK	12 mi	4 of 5	157	(580) 762-6668
Shawn Manor Nursing Home	Ponca City, OK	15 mi	5 of 5	96	(580) 765-3364
Bradbury Commons	Ponca City, OK	16 mi	4 of 5	68	(580) 370-7132

Hospices serving Tonkawa

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Of North Central Oklahoma, Inc.	Ponca City, OK	13 mi	(580) 762-9102
Traditions Health Of Oklahoma City	Enid, OK	36 mi	(580) 366-0120
Stillwater Medical At Home	Stillwater, OK	42 mi	(405) 533-4500
Acg Hospice Ii	Oklahoma City, OK	77 mi	(405) 242-2788

Straight-line miles from the center of Tonkawa. 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 Tonkawa

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,297 monthly median income of Tonkawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Tonkawa: common questions

What nursing homes are near Tonkawa?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Hillcrest Manor Nursing Center in Blackwell (8.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Ponca City Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Ponca City (12 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Shawn Manor Nursing Home in Ponca City (15 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Tonkawa?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $4,297 monthly median income of Tonkawa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Tonkawa

More senior care near Tonkawa

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tonkawa

More for Tonkawa 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 Tonkawa, OK