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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wausau, WI: the local picture

1,120

residents 85 or older (2.8% of all residents)

7,741

residents 65 or older (19% of Wausau)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Marathon County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wausau has about 1,120 residents aged 85 or older among 7,741 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.

34% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Marathon County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

38% of older Wausau 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.

Wausau compared with Marathon County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Wausau	Marathon County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	19%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	9.2%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	12%	7.6%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,828	$53,258	—

Older residents in towns around Wausau

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Rib Mountain, WI	4.8 mi	1,821	110
Rothschild, WI	6.2 mi	999	113
Weston, WI	6.8 mi	3,060	555
Maine, WI	6.9 mi	519	61
Kronenwetter, WI	10 mi	1,040	94
Mosinee, WI	12 mi	689	116

Nursing homes near Wausau

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Wausau Manor Health Services	Wausau, WI	1.5 mi	4 of 5	68	(715) 842-0575
Amethyst Health Of Wausau	Wausau, WI	1.8 mi	1 of 5	80	(715) 842-2028
Wood Aven Health And Rehabilitation	Wausau, WI	1.9 mi	3 of 5	82	(715) 675-9451
North Central Health Care	Wausau, WI	2.3 mi	2 of 5	159	(715) 841-5178
Rennes Health And Rehab Center-Weston	Weston, WI	6.0 mi	5 of 5	130	(715) 393-0400
Pride Tlc Therapy And Living Campus	Weston, WI	6.1 mi	5 of 5	25	(715) 298-3833

Hospices serving Wausau

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Interim Hospice And Palliative Care	Wausau, WI	2.9 mi	(715) 842-7707
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	2.9 mi	(715) 847-2424
St Croix Hospice Wausau	Wausau, WI	2.9 mi	(715) 318-6607
Le Royer Hospice	Antigo, WI	27 mi	(715) 623-2331

Straight-line miles from the center of Wausau. 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 Wausau

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 43% of the $3,486 monthly median income of Wausau 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 Wausau: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wausau?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Wausau Manor Health Services in Wausau (1.5 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Amethyst Health Of Wausau in Wausau (1.8 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Wood Aven Health And Rehabilitation in Wausau (1.9 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wausau?

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 43% of the $3,486 monthly median income of Wausau 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 Wausau

More senior care near Wausau

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wausau

More for Wausau 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 Wausau, WI