--- title: "Dementia Home Care: Keeping a Parent Safe at Home" description: "Caring for a parent with dementia at home: safety changes, daily routines, paid help, costs, support for caregivers, and signs home may no longer work." url: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/dementia-home-care/ updated: 2026-10-09 site: Senior Transition Assistance --- Care at home # Dementia home care: how to keep a parent with dementia safe at home Many people with dementia live at home for a long time, with the right support around them. Here's how families make home safer, where paid help fits, and how to look after yourself too. Talk it through with a person[ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388) Free. We listen, explain your options, and introduce you to a few that fit. You decide. Quick answer Dementia home care combines a safer home, a steady routine and the right amount of help: family, a trained home care aide, adult day programs and respite breaks. Start with safety (falls, the stove, medications, wandering), then add help where the gaps are. In 2025 home care had a median of $34 an hour in Kansas and $33 in Missouri (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025). [(800) 614-8388](tel:+18006148388) to find dementia-trained caregivers near you. **Last updated October 9, 2026** Costs are published medians or typical ranges with a named source, never quotes. Every community and agency prices differently. **On this page** 1. [ Make the home safer](#g-make-the-home-safer) 2. [Build a steady routine](#g-build-a-steady-routine) 3. [Where paid help fits](#g-where-paid-help-fits) 4. [Look after the caregiver](#g-look-after-the-caregiver) 5. [Signs home may no longer be enough](#g-signs-home-may-no-longer-be-enough) 6. [Questions](#g-faq) ## Make the home safer - Remove trip hazards: loose rugs, clutter, cords. Add night lights and grab bars. - Lock up medications, cleaning products, guns and car keys. - Turn off or add an automatic shut-off to the stove. - Set the water heater to a safe temperature. - Add door chimes or alarms if wandering starts, and keep a recent photo handy. - Label drawers and doors with words or pictures. ## Build a steady routine People with dementia often do better with the same routine every day: meals, bathing and outings at the same times. Keep instructions short, one step at a time. Late afternoon can bring more confusion (often called sundowning); plan calm activities and good light then. ## Where paid help fits - **Home care aides** for bathing, meals, supervision and company. Ask whether caregivers are trained in dementia care. See [in-home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/in-home-care/). - **Adult day programs** for a supervised, social day. In 2025 adult day health care had a median daily rate of $200 in Kansas and $95 in Missouri. - **Respite care** for caregiver breaks. See [respite care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/respite-care/). - **Home health care** for skilled needs after a hospital stay, often covered by Medicare. ## Look after the caregiver Dementia caregiving is hard and long. The Alzheimer's Association runs a 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 and local support groups. Your Area Agency on Aging (1-800-677-1116) knows about local caregiver programs and respite. On the Kansas side, Johnson County Aging and Human Services; on the Missouri side, the Mid-America Regional Council. ## Signs home may no longer be enough Wandering, repeated falls, aggression, round-the-clock care needs, or a caregiver whose own health is failing. See [when is it time for memory care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/when-is-it-time/). ### Need dementia-trained help at home? We'll introduce you to agencies near your parent and talk through what comes next. Free. [ (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388)[Have us call you](#g-form) ## Questions families ask ### Can a person with dementia live alone? In the early stage some do, with checks and help. As dementia progresses, living alone usually becomes unsafe. ### How much does dementia care at home cost? It depends on hours. Home care had a 2025 median of $34 an hour in Kansas and $33 in Missouri. Full-time or overnight care costs much more. ### Does Medicare pay for dementia care at home? Not for non-medical care. It pays for home health care when your parent qualifies. ### How do I get a break? Adult day programs, respite stays and home care aides can all give you time off. Ask your Area Agency on Aging about local respite help. ## Sources - [Alzheimer's Association: Caregiving](https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving) - [National Institute on Aging: Caregiving](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving) - [CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, Median Cost Data Tables (survey July to November 2025; median cost data tables, published March 2026)](https://pro.genworth.com/riiproweb/productinfo/pdf/282102.pdf) - [Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration for Community Living), 1-800-677-1116](https://eldercare.acl.gov/) ## Related guides - [Care at home](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/) - [Dementia care options](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/dementia-care-options/) - [When is it time for memory care?](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/memory-care/when-is-it-time/) - [In-home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/in-home-care/) - [Respite care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/respite-care/) - [PACE](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/pace-program/) - [Aging in place](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/aging-in-place/) - [Home care vs. home health](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/home-care-vs-home-health/) - [Finding a caregiver](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/finding-a-caregiver/) --- Canonical page: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/dementia-home-care/