Companion Care in Lake Elmo, MN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Lake Elmo, MN: the local picture

2,217

residents 65 or older (17% of Lake Elmo)

22%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (26% in Washington County)

7.3%

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

3.9%

of households have no vehicle (3.8% in Washington County)

About 475 residents of Lake Elmo aged 65 or older live alone, 22% of older residents in households (26% in Washington County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

3.9% of Lake Elmo households have no vehicle (3.8% in Washington County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,217 Lake Elmo residents aged 65 or older, 218 are 85 or older (9.8%). 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.

1,169 Lake Elmo households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 197 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 221 older Lake Elmo residents (10.0%) live below the poverty line (6.7% in Washington 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.

About 7.3% of Lake Elmo residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (253), other Asian and Pacific Island languages (226), other languages (104). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

Lake Elmo compared with Washington County and Minnesota

Census figure	Lake Elmo	Washington County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.3%	12%	12%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	3.8%	6.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10.0%	6.7%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	27%	28%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,858	$75,658	—

Older residents in towns around Lake Elmo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Oakdale, MN	2.6 mi	4,901	33%
North St. Paul, MN	4.8 mi	1,789	32%
Woodbury, MN	5.7 mi	10,738	25%
Mahtomedi, MN	5.7 mi	1,776	33%
Oak Park Heights, MN	5.8 mi	1,489	55%
Stillwater, MN	6.2 mi	3,840	33%

Hospitals near Lake Elmo (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital	Woodbury, MN	5.0 mi	4 of 5	(651) 232-2185
Lakeview Memorial Hospital	Stillwater, MN	5.9 mi	4 of 5	(651) 430-4509
M Health Fairview St John's Hospital	Maplewood, MN	6.1 mi	5 of 5	(651) 232-7000

Straight-line miles from the center of Lake Elmo. 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 Lake Elmo

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,155 monthly median income of Lake Elmo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 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 Lake Elmo: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Lake Elmo?

About 475 residents aged 65 or older, 22% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (26% in Washington County).

How much does companion care cost in Lake Elmo?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,155 monthly median income of Lake Elmo households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Lake Elmo?

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 Lake Elmo

More senior care near Lake Elmo

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lake Elmo

More for Lake Elmo 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 Lake Elmo, MN