Dementia Care in Waterloo, WI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Waterloo, WI: the local picture

89

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

598

residents 65 or older (17% of Waterloo)

41%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Waterloo has about 89 residents aged 85 or older among 598 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.

41% of residents 65 and older report a disability (27% in Jefferson County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older Waterloo 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.

Waterloo compared with Jefferson County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Waterloo	Jefferson County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	17%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	8.2%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	6.3%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,859	$59,050	—

Older residents in towns around Waterloo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Marshall, WI	3.8 mi	389	18
Lake Mills, WI	8.4 mi	1,189	102
Deerfield, WI	10 mi	293	22
Columbus, WI	11 mi	844	97
Sun Prairie, WI	12 mi	5,317	921
Cottage Grove, WI	13 mi	1,006	109

Nursing homes near Waterloo

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lake Mills Health Services	Lake Mills, WI	8.1 mi	4 of 5	50	(920) 648-8344
Columbus Health And Rehab	Columbus, WI	11 mi	2 of 5	50	(920) 623-2520
Sun Prairie Senior Living	Sun Prairie, WI	11 mi	3 of 5	52	(608) 837-5959
Avina Of Sun Prairie	Sun Prairie, WI	13 mi	5 of 5	50	(608) 837-8529
Marquardt Memorial Manor	Watertown, WI	14 mi	2 of 5	140	(920) 261-0400
Watertown Health Care Center	Watertown, WI	15 mi	1 of 5	112	(920) 261-9220

Hospices serving Waterloo

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Rainbow Hospice Care	Jefferson, WI	16 mi	(920) 674-6255
Interim Healthcare Of WI Madison	Madison, WI	23 mi	(608) 238-0268
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	26 mi	(608) 276-4660
Brighton Hospice Madison	Middleton, WI	27 mi	(608) 820-1646

Straight-line miles from the center of Waterloo. 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 Waterloo

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,488 monthly median income of Waterloo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a 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 Waterloo: common questions

What nursing homes are near Waterloo?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Lake Mills Health Services in Lake Mills (8.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Columbus Health And Rehab in Columbus (11 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Sun Prairie Senior Living in Sun Prairie (11 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Waterloo?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,488 monthly median income of Waterloo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Waterloo

More senior care near Waterloo

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waterloo

More for Waterloo 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 Waterloo, WI