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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Waunakee, WI: the local picture

264

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

2,292

residents 65 or older (15% of Waunakee)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Dane County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Waunakee has about 264 residents aged 85 or older among 2,292 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.

27% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Dane County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

24% of older Waunakee 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.

Waunakee compared with Dane County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Waunakee	Dane County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	15%	15%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.0%	6.0%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	9.0%	12%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,224	$72,639	—

Older residents in towns around Waunakee

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
DeForest, WI	5.9 mi	1,790	231
Middleton, WI	6.1 mi	3,967	404
Madison, WI	6.6 mi	36,240	4,039
Windsor, WI	9.3 mi	1,284	52
Lodi, WI	10 mi	877	26
Sun Prairie, WI	10 mi	5,317	921

Nursing homes near Waunakee

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Waunakee Valley Senior Living	Waunakee, WI	1.0 mi	3 of 5	84	(608) 849-5016
Middleton Village Nursing And Rehab	Middleton, WI	6.8 mi	1 of 5	97	(608) 831-8300
Capitol Lakes Health Center	Madison, WI	8.2 mi	4 of 5	49	(608) 283-2000
Oakwood Village East Health And Rehab Center	Madison, WI	8.3 mi	3 of 5	40	(608) 230-4000
Madison Health And Rehabilitation Center	Madison, WI	8.9 mi	1 of 5	83	(608) 249-7391
Oak Park Place Of Nakoma	Madison, WI	9.9 mi	3 of 5	33	(608) 640-4100

Hospices serving Waunakee

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Brighton Hospice Madison	Middleton, WI	6.2 mi	(608) 820-1646
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	10 mi	(608) 276-4660
Bristol Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	10 mi	(608) 960-7699
Interim Healthcare Of WI Madison	Madison, WI	10 mi	(608) 238-0268

Straight-line miles from the center of Waunakee. 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 Waunakee

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 27% of the $5,519 monthly median income of Waunakee 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 Waunakee: common questions

What nursing homes are near Waunakee?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Waunakee Valley Senior Living in Waunakee (1.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Middleton Village Nursing And Rehab in Middleton (6.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Capitol Lakes Health Center in Madison (8.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Waunakee?

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 27% of the $5,519 monthly median income of Waunakee 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 Waunakee

More senior care near Waunakee

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waunakee

More for Waunakee 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 Waunakee, WI