Companion Care in Baldwin, WI: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Baldwin, WI: the local picture

516

residents 65 or older (12% of Baldwin)

42%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (26% in St. Croix County)

1.4%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

6.3%

of households have no vehicle (3.3% in St. Croix County)

About 192 residents of Baldwin aged 65 or older live alone, 42% of older residents in households (26% in St. Croix County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

6.3% of Baldwin households have no vehicle (3.3% in St. Croix County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 516 Baldwin residents aged 65 or older, 76 are 85 or older (15%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

189 Baldwin households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 128 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 60 older Baldwin residents (13%) live below the poverty line (7.7% in St. Croix County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

Baldwin compared with St. Croix County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Baldwin	St. Croix County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	12%	16%	19%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.4%	3.3%	9.0%
Households with no vehicle	6.3%	3.3%	6.4%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	7.7%	9.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	27%	28%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,688	$63,226	—

Older residents in towns around Baldwin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
River Falls, WI	14 mi	1,941	38%
New Richmond, WI	15 mi	1,695	33%
Ellsworth, WI	16 mi	354	41%
Hudson, WI	18 mi	2,918	34%
Somerset, WI	19 mi	250	33%
North Hudson, WI	19 mi	686	21%

Hospitals near Baldwin (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Western Wisconsin Health	Baldwin, WI	0.8 mi	not rated	(715) 684-1111
Westfields Hospital And Clinic	New Richmond, WI	14 mi	4 of 5	(715) 246-2101
River Falls Area Hospital	River Falls, WI	14 mi	5 of 5	(715) 307-6000

Straight-line miles from the center of Baldwin. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in Baldwin

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,141 monthly median income of Baldwin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Companion Care in Baldwin: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Baldwin?

About 192 residents aged 65 or older, 42% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (26% in St. Croix County).

How much does companion care cost in Baldwin?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,141 monthly median income of Baldwin households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Baldwin?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near Baldwin

More senior care near Baldwin

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Baldwin

More for Baldwin 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.

Companion Care for Seniors in Baldwin, WI