Dementia Care in Vermillion, SD: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Vermillion, SD: the local picture

177

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

1,136

residents 65 or older (9.6% of Vermillion)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Clay County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Vermillion has about 177 residents aged 85 or older among 1,136 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 (32% in Clay County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

31% of older Vermillion 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.

Vermillion compared with Clay County and South Dakota

Census figure	Vermillion	Clay County	South Dakota
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	9.6%	12%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.2%	10%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	4.6%	4.2%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,750	$68,068	—

Older residents in towns around Vermillion

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Elk Point, SD	14 mi	450	144
Yankton, SD	25 mi	3,426	336
Hawarden, IA	27 mi	452	96
North Sioux City, SD	28 mi	640	0
Dakota Dunes, SD	30 mi	756	0
Sioux City, IA	34 mi	12,804	1,235

Nursing homes near Vermillion

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sanford Care Center Vermillion	Vermillion, SD	0.4 mi	2 of 5	66	(605) 677-3500
Wakonda Heritage Manor	Wakonda, SD	18 mi	5 of 5	38	(605) 267-2081
Akron Care Center, Inc	Akron, IA	19 mi	4 of 5	45	(712) 568-2422
Accura Healthcare Of Hartington	Hartington, NE	21 mi	5 of 5	47	(402) 254-3905
Bethesda Of Beresford	Beresford, SD	22 mi	2 of 5	39	(605) 763-2050
Alcester Care And Rehab Center, Inc	Alcester, SD	22 mi	5 of 5	44	(605) 934-2011

Hospices serving Vermillion

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Avera @ Home	Yankton, SD	25 mi	(605) 668-8327
St. Croix Hospice	South Sioux City, NE	34 mi	(402) 252-5132
Aseracare Hospice	Sioux Falls, SD	51 mi	(605) 338-2066
Sanford Hospice	Sioux Falls, SD	54 mi	(605) 312-5500

Straight-line miles from the center of Vermillion. 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 Vermillion

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,729 monthly median income of Vermillion households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Vermillion: common questions

What nursing homes are near Vermillion?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Sanford Care Center Vermillion in Vermillion (0.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Wakonda Heritage Manor in Wakonda (18 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Akron Care Center, Inc in Akron (19 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Vermillion?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $5,729 monthly median income of Vermillion households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Vermillion

More senior care near Vermillion

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Vermillion

More for Vermillion 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 Vermillion, SD