Dementia Care in Wahpeton, ND: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wahpeton, ND: the local picture

158

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

1,557

residents 65 or older (19% of Wahpeton)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Richland County)

3

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wahpeton has about 158 residents aged 85 or older among 1,557 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 (27% in Richland County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older Wahpeton 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.

Wahpeton compared with Richland County and North Dakota

Census figure	Wahpeton	Richland County	North Dakota
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	27%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	29%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	10%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.3%	2.8%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,228	$51,739	—

Older residents in towns around Wahpeton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Breckenridge, MN	1.4 mi	667	231
Fergus Falls, MN	26 mi	3,663	884
Barnesville, MN	28 mi	359	57
Pelican Rapids, MN	32 mi	444	108
Horace, ND	36 mi	294	0
Moorhead, MN	41 mi	5,703	928

Nursing homes near Wahpeton

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
St Catherines Living Center	Wahpeton, ND	0.5 mi	2 of 5	49	(701) 642-6667
St Francis Home	Breckenridge, MN	1.2 mi	5 of 5	80	(218) 643-3000
St Gerard's Community Of Care	Hankinson, ND	20 mi	3 of 5	34	(701) 242-7891

Hospices serving Wahpeton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Chi Health At Home	Breckenridge, MN	2.4 mi	(218) 643-2275
Hia Hospice	Fargo, ND	38 mi	(701) 356-1500
Chi Health At Home - Hospice	Dickinson, ND	294 mi	(701) 456-4378

Straight-line miles from the center of Wahpeton. 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 Wahpeton

At the North Dakota median aide wage of $18.96 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,643 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,686 monthly median income of Wahpeton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Dakota'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 Wahpeton: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wahpeton?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are St Catherines Living Center in Wahpeton (0.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); St Francis Home in Breckenridge (1.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); St Gerard's Community Of Care in Hankinson (20 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wahpeton?

At the North Dakota median aide wage of $18.96 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,643 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,686 monthly median income of Wahpeton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Dakota'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 Wahpeton

More senior care near Wahpeton

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wahpeton

More for Wahpeton 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 Wahpeton, ND