Dementia Care in Winterset, IA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Winterset, IA: the local picture

185

residents 85 or older (3.4% of all residents)

1,188

residents 65 or older (22% of Winterset)

44%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Madison County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Winterset has about 185 residents aged 85 or older among 1,188 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.

44% of residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Madison County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

54% of older Winterset 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.

Winterset compared with Madison County and Iowa

Census figure	Winterset	Madison County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65 or older	22%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	54%	34%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.3%	6.7%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.7%	3.9%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,800	$59,507	—

Older residents in towns around Winterset

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Adel, IA	18 mi	792	144
Waukee, IA	18 mi	3,250	370
West Des Moines, IA	18 mi	10,723	1,394
Norwalk, IA	19 mi	2,002	380
Clive, IA	21 mi	3,026	433
Urbandale, IA	23 mi	6,881	874

Nursing homes near Winterset

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Azria Health Winterset	Winterset, IA	1.4 mi	2 of 5	65	(515) 462-1711
Edgewater, A Wesleylife Community	West Des Moines, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	40	(515) 978-2400
Cedar Ridge Village	West Des Moines, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	40	(515) 369-2100
Adel Acres	Adel, IA	18 mi	1 of 5	50	(515) 993-4511
Arbor Springs Of West Des Moines L L C	West Des Moines, IA	18 mi	1 of 5	56	(515) 223-1135
Community Care Center	Stuart, IA	19 mi	5 of 5	65	(515) 523-2815

Hospices serving Winterset

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Suncrest Hospice, LLC	West Des Moines, IA	19 mi	(515) 327-6026
Care Initiatives Hospice - Greenfield	Greenfield, IA	22 mi	(641) 743-6226
Wesleylife Hospice	Urbandale, IA	25 mi	(515) 271-6777
Unitypoint Hospice	Urbandale, IA	25 mi	(515) 557-3100

Straight-line miles from the center of Winterset. 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 Winterset

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,650 monthly median income of Winterset households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Winterset: common questions

What nursing homes are near Winterset?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Azria Health Winterset in Winterset (1.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Edgewater, A Wesleylife Community in West Des Moines (17 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Cedar Ridge Village in West Des Moines (18 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Winterset?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,650 monthly median income of Winterset households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Winterset

More senior care near Winterset

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Winterset

More for Winterset 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 Winterset, IA