Dementia Care in Yankton, SD: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Yankton, SD: the local picture

336

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

3,426

residents 65 or older (22% of Yankton)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Yankton County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Yankton has about 336 residents aged 85 or older among 3,426 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 (33% in Yankton County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

42% of older Yankton 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.

Yankton compared with Yankton County and South Dakota

Census figure	Yankton	Yankton County	South Dakota
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	1.9%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	21%	18%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	37%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.0%	5.7%	7.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,400	$58,149	—

Older residents in towns around Yankton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Vermillion, SD	25 mi	1,136	177
Elk Point, SD	39 mi	450	144
Hawarden, IA	47 mi	452	96
Tea, SD	48 mi	371	11
Wayne, NE	49 mi	734	134
Canton, SD	50 mi	786	194

Nursing homes near Yankton

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
SD Human Services Center - Geriatric Program	Yankton, SD	1.7 mi	5 of 5	69	(605) 668-3100
Avera Sister James Care Center	Yankton, SD	1.9 mi	5 of 5	194	(605) 668-8900
Wakonda Heritage Manor	Wakonda, SD	17 mi	5 of 5	38	(605) 267-2081
Sunset Manor Avera Health	Irene, SD	18 mi	2 of 5	58	(605) 263-3318
Accura Healthcare Of Hartington	Hartington, NE	20 mi	5 of 5	47	(402) 254-3905
Good Samaritan Society - Bloomfield	Bloomfield, NE	24 mi	3 of 5	70	(402) 373-2531

Hospices serving Yankton

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Avera @ Home	Yankton, SD	0.6 mi	(605) 668-8327
Aseracare Hospice	Sioux Falls, SD	53 mi	(605) 338-2066

Straight-line miles from the center of Yankton. 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 Yankton

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,617 monthly median income of Yankton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Yankton: common questions

What nursing homes are near Yankton?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are SD Human Services Center - Geriatric Program in Yankton (1.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton (1.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Wakonda Heritage Manor in Wakonda (17 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Yankton?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $4,617 monthly median income of Yankton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Yankton

More senior care near Yankton

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Yankton

More for Yankton 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 Yankton, SD