Dementia Care in Waco, TX: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Waco, TX: the local picture

2,538

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

19,292

residents 65 or older (13% of Waco)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in McLennan County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Waco has about 2,538 residents aged 85 or older among 19,292 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.

40% of residents 65 and older report a disability (37% in McLennan County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Waco 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.

Waco compared with McLennan County and Texas

Census figure	Waco	McLennan County	Texas
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.7%	1.4%
Residents 65 or older	13%	15%	13%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	37%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	10%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	23%	20%	35%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,729	$56,849	—

Older residents in towns around Waco

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Woodway, TX	4.8 mi	2,201	272
Bellmead, TX	6.6 mi	1,485	144
Lacy-Lakeview, TX	7.1 mi	800	94
Hewitt, TX	7.4 mi	3,097	169
Robinson, TX	8.3 mi	1,865	273
McGregor, TX	17 mi	858	121

Nursing homes near Waco

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Ivy Creek Wellness & Rehabilitation	Waco, TX	1.4 mi	1 of 5	162	(254) 752-0311
Avir At Jeffrey Place	Waco, TX	2.2 mi	3 of 5	95	(254) 772-9480
Lakeshore Village Nursing And Rehabilitation	Waco, TX	2.4 mi	1 of 5	151	(254) 752-1075
Crestview Healthcare Residence	Waco, TX	2.6 mi	4 of 5	192	(254) 753-0291
Greenview Nursing And Rehabilitation	Waco, TX	2.9 mi	1 of 5	128	(254) 772-8900
Ridgecrest Retirement And Healthcare Community	Waco, TX	3.1 mi	1 of 5	90	(254) 776-9681

Hospices serving Waco

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Baylor Scott & White Hospice-Waco	Waco, TX	1.4 mi	(254) 202-5100
Gentiva	Waco, TX	1.6 mi	(254) 399-0963
Magnolia Hospice	Waco, TX	1.6 mi	(254) 741-6570
Compassus - Central Texas	Waco, TX	1.6 mi	(254) 870-5174

Straight-line miles from the center of Waco. 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 Waco

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $3,894 monthly median income of Waco households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver.

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 Waco: common questions

What nursing homes are near Waco?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Ivy Creek Wellness & Rehabilitation in Waco (1.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Avir At Jeffrey Place in Waco (2.2 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Lakeshore Village Nursing And Rehabilitation in Waco (2.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Waco?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $3,894 monthly median income of Waco households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 Waco

More senior care near Waco

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waco

More for Waco 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 Waco, TX