Dementia Care in West Plains, MO: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in West Plains, MO: the local picture

381

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

2,383

residents 65 or older (19% of West Plains)

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Howell County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

West Plains has about 381 residents aged 85 or older among 2,383 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.

39% of residents 65 and older report a disability (38% in Howell County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

44% of older West Plains 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.

West Plains compared with Howell County and Missouri

Census figure	West Plains	Howell County	Missouri
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	38%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	16%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.3%	3.1%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,188	$36,839	—

Older residents in towns around West Plains

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Mountain View, MO	20 mi	741	67
Cherokee Village, AR	35 mi	1,626	284
Mountain Grove, MO	35 mi	1,069	115
Horseshoe Bend, AR	37 mi	806	95
Mountain Home, AR	40 mi	4,330	831
Ava, MO	47 mi	621	117

Nursing homes near West Plains

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Brooke Haven Healthcare	West Plains, MO	0.5 mi	4 of 5	120	(417) 256-7975
Nhc Healthcare, West Plains	West Plains, MO	0.9 mi	5 of 5	114	(417) 256-0798
West Vue Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	West Plains, MO	0.9 mi	2 of 5	130	(417) 256-2152
Willow Care Nursing Home	Willow Springs, MO	18 mi	3 of 5	105	(417) 469-3152
Mountain View Healthcare	Mountain View, MO	21 mi	5 of 5	105	(417) 934-6818
Shady Oaks Healthcare Center	Thayer, MO	23 mi	5 of 5	120	(417) 264-7256

Hospices serving West Plains

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Ozarks Healthcare At Home, Hospice	West Plains, MO	0.7 mi	(417) 256-3133
Hospice Compassus-South Central Missouri	Mountain Grove, MO	37 mi	(417) 926-4146
Three Rivers Hospice South	Mountain Grove, MO	37 mi	(417) 926-3373
Alternative Hospice, LLC	Fenton, MO	144 mi	(636) 343-3839

Straight-line miles from the center of West Plains. 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 West Plains

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid 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 West Plains: common questions

What nursing homes are near West Plains?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Brooke Haven Healthcare in West Plains (0.5 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Nhc Healthcare, West Plains in West Plains (0.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); West Vue Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in West Plains (0.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in West Plains?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 West Plains

More senior care near West Plains

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in West Plains

More for West Plains 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 West Plains, MO