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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Urbandale, IA: the local picture

874

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

6,881

residents 65 or older (15% of Urbandale)

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Urbandale has about 874 residents aged 85 or older among 6,881 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.

22% of residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Polk County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

23% of older Urbandale 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.

Urbandale compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Urbandale	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	15%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.2%	7.5%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	15%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$86,630	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Urbandale

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Clive, IA	1.9 mi	3,026	433
Grimes, IA	3.1 mi	1,199	99
Windsor Heights, IA	4.1 mi	985	125
Johnston, IA	4.8 mi	3,741	475
West Des Moines, IA	6.0 mi	10,723	1,394
Waukee, IA	6.2 mi	3,250	370

Nursing homes near Urbandale

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Deerfield Health Care Center	Urbandale, IA	2.1 mi	5 of 5	30	(515) 331-6900
Walnut Ridge	Clive, IA	2.1 mi	5 of 5	60	(515) 222-4000
Royal Oaks Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Urbandale, IA	2.5 mi	1 of 5	115	(515) 270-6838
Karen Acres Care Center	Urbandale, IA	3.0 mi	5 of 5	35	(515) 276-4969
Kennybrook Village	Grimes, IA	3.8 mi	3 of 5	40	(515) 369-3900
Brio Of Johnston, LLC	Johnston, IA	3.8 mi	3 of 5	36	(515) 253-2501

Hospices serving Urbandale

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	3.0 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	3.0 mi	(515) 557-3100
Hospice Of The Midwest, LLC	Johnston, IA	4.7 mi	(515) 218-2143
Care Initiatives Hospice - West Des Moines	West Des Moines, IA	4.7 mi	(515) 223-3813

Straight-line miles from the center of Urbandale. 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 Urbandale

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 21% of the $7,219 monthly median income of Urbandale 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 Urbandale: common questions

What nursing homes are near Urbandale?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Deerfield Health Care Center in Urbandale (2.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Walnut Ridge in Clive (2.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Royal Oaks Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Urbandale (2.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Urbandale?

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 21% of the $7,219 monthly median income of Urbandale 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 Urbandale

More senior care near Urbandale

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Urbandale

More for Urbandale 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 Urbandale, IA