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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wheeling, IL: the local picture

625

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

6,747

residents 65 or older (18% of Wheeling)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Cook County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wheeling has about 625 residents aged 85 or older among 6,747 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 (32% in Cook County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

27% of older Wheeling 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.

Wheeling compared with Cook County and Illinois

Census figure	Wheeling	Cook County	Illinois
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65 or older	18%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	13%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	62%	36%	24%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,973	$56,774	—

Older residents in towns around Wheeling

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Prospect Heights, IL	1.8 mi	3,051	468
Buffalo Grove, IL	3.3 mi	6,774	666
Riverwoods, IL	3.3 mi	1,000	87
Arlington Heights, IL	3.8 mi	15,238	2,285
Deerfield, IL	4.3 mi	3,872	813
Northbrook, IL	4.4 mi	9,188	1,570

Nursing homes near Wheeling

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Bella Terra Wheeling	Wheeling, IL	0.8 mi	5 of 5	215	(847) 537-7474
Greek American Rehab Care Ctr	Wheeling, IL	1.1 mi	4 of 5	188	(847) 459-8700
Addolorata Villa	Wheeling, IL	1.5 mi	5 of 5	86	(847) 537-2900
Warren Barr Buffalo Grove	Buffalo Grove, IL	2.5 mi	2 of 5	200	(847) 465-0200
Elevate Care Riverwoods	Riverwoods, IL	2.6 mi	3 of 5	240	(847) 947-9000
Eden Vista Prospect Heights	Prospect Heights, IL	2.9 mi	5 of 5	30	(847) 797-2700

Hospices serving Wheeling

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heartland Hospice (Northbrook)	Buffalo Grove, IL	3.0 mi	(847) 272-7338
V Care Hospice Services Of Illinois	Northbrook, IL	3.9 mi	(847) 272-5883
Suncrest Hospice Illinois LLC	Northbrook, IL	3.9 mi	(847) 983-0017
Residential Hospice	Northbrook, IL	3.9 mi	(855) 902-5100

Straight-line miles from the center of Wheeling. 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 Wheeling

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 33% of the $4,748 monthly median income of Wheeling 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 Wheeling: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wheeling?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Bella Terra Wheeling in Wheeling (0.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Greek American Rehab Care Ctr in Wheeling (1.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Addolorata Villa in Wheeling (1.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wheeling?

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 33% of the $4,748 monthly median income of Wheeling 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 Wheeling

More senior care near Wheeling

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wheeling

More for Wheeling 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 Wheeling, IL