Dementia Care in Wilkes-Barre, PA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Wilkes-Barre, PA: the local picture

1,029

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

6,791

residents 65 or older (15% of Wilkes-Barre)

35%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Wilkes-Barre has about 1,029 residents aged 85 or older among 6,791 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.

35% of residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Luzerne County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

41% of older Wilkes-Barre 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.

Wilkes-Barre compared with Luzerne County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Wilkes-Barre	Luzerne County	Pennsylvania
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.5%	2.4%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	11%	9.9%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	28%	16%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,975	$49,926	—

Older residents in towns around Wilkes-Barre

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Kingston, PA	1.4 mi	2,496	428
Edwardsville, PA	2.0 mi	760	53
Forty Fort, PA	2.3 mi	698	99
Plains, PA	2.4 mi	967	60
Ashley, PA	2.6 mi	448	12
Luzerne, PA	3.0 mi	735	25

Nursing homes near Wilkes-Barre

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Embassy Of Wyoming Valley	Wilkes Barre, PA	0.2 mi	2 of 5	120	(570) 825-3488
Allied Services Center City Skilled Nursing	Wilkes Barre, PA	0.5 mi	3 of 5	92	(570) 826-1031
Riverstreet Manor	Wilkes-Barre, PA	0.6 mi	2 of 5	122	(570) 825-5611
Edenbrook On Second Ave	Kingston, PA	0.8 mi	1 of 5	160	(570) 288-9315
Allied Services Meade Street Skilled Nursing	Wilkes Barre, PA	0.9 mi	4 of 5	133	(570) 823-6131
Third Avenue Health & Rehab Center	Kingston, PA	1.1 mi	4 of 5	65	(570) 283-5848

Hospices serving Wilkes-Barre

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Pathways Healthcare	Kingston, PA	2.1 mi	(570) 288-1013
Hospice Of The Sacred Heart	Moosic, PA	13 mi	(570) 706-2400
Allied Services Hospice LLC	Clarks Summit, PA	19 mi	(570) 341-4320
Compassionate Care Hospice Of Northwestern Pennsylvania, LLC	Olyphant, PA	21 mi	(570) 451-1031

Straight-line miles from the center of Wilkes-Barre. 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 Wilkes-Barre

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,248 monthly median income of Wilkes-Barre households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 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 Wilkes-Barre: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wilkes-Barre?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Embassy Of Wyoming Valley in Wilkes Barre (0.2 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Allied Services Center City Skilled Nursing in Wilkes Barre (0.5 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Riverstreet Manor in Wilkes-Barre (0.6 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Wilkes-Barre?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $3,248 monthly median income of Wilkes-Barre households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania'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 Wilkes-Barre

More senior care near Wilkes-Barre

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wilkes-Barre

More for Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA