Dementia Care in Waukegan, IL: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Waukegan, IL: the local picture

793

residents 85 or older (0.9% of all residents)

10,770

residents 65 or older (12% of Waukegan)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Lake County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Waukegan has about 793 residents aged 85 or older among 10,770 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.

33% of residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Lake County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

31% of older Waukegan 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.

Waukegan compared with Lake County and Illinois

Census figure	Waukegan	Lake County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	1.8%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	12%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	26%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	25%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	7.4%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	54%	31%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,950	$80,242	—

Older residents in towns around Waukegan

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Park City, IL	1.5 mi	805	168
Gurnee, IL	3.4 mi	4,725	404
North Chicago, IL	3.7 mi	2,101	319
Beach Park, IL	5.0 mi	2,647	253
Green Oaks, IL	5.2 mi	1,053	224
Gages Lake, IL	5.8 mi	1,583	161

Nursing homes near Waukegan

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Elevate Care Waukegan	Waukegan, IL	0.7 mi	2 of 5	265	(847) 249-2400
Waukegan Health And Rehab	Waukegan, IL	0.9 mi	4 of 5	112	(847) 244-4100
Aspyre Of Waukegan	Waukegan, IL	1.8 mi	1 of 5	115	(847) 244-6700
Claridge Healthcare Center	Lake Bluff, IL	5.8 mi	1 of 5	231	(847) 295-3900
Alpine Care Of Zion	Zion, IL	6.0 mi	2 of 5	244	(847) 746-8435
Allure Of Zion	Zion, IL	6.7 mi	1 of 5	115	(847) 746-8382

Hospices serving Waukegan

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Star Hospice	Gurnee, IL	3.8 mi	(847) 672-9225
Integrated Palliative And Hospice LLC	Libertyville, IL	7.3 mi	(847) 549-0588
Hospice Alliance	Pleasant Prairie, WI	11 mi	(262) 652-4400
Accord Hospice	Deerfield, IL	14 mi	(847) 780-4594

Straight-line miles from the center of Waukegan. 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 Waukegan

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $5,079 monthly median income of Waukegan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Waukegan: common questions

What nursing homes are near Waukegan?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Elevate Care Waukegan in Waukegan (0.7 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Waukegan Health And Rehab in Waukegan (0.9 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Aspyre Of Waukegan in Waukegan (1.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Waukegan?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $5,079 monthly median income of Waukegan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Waukegan

More senior care near Waukegan

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waukegan

More for Waukegan 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 Waukegan, IL