Companion Care in Red Wing, MN: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Red Wing, MN: the local picture

3,493

residents 65 or older (21% of Red Wing)

37%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Goodhue County)

5.1%

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

10%

of households have no vehicle (6.8% in Goodhue County)

About 1,175 residents of Red Wing aged 65 or older live alone, 37% of older residents in households (29% in Goodhue County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

10% of Red Wing households have no vehicle (6.8% in Goodhue County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 3,493 Red Wing residents aged 65 or older, 519 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.

1,753 Red Wing households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 576 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 401 older Red Wing residents (12%) live below the poverty line (9.9% in Goodhue 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 5.1% of Red Wing residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (625), other languages (144), Vietnamese (24). 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.

Red Wing compared with Goodhue County and Minnesota

Census figure	Red Wing	Goodhue County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	21%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	5.1%	3.6%	12%
Households with no vehicle	10%	6.8%	6.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.9%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	27%	28%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,856	$60,009	—

Older residents in towns around Red Wing

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Ellsworth, WI	12 mi	354	41%
Cannon Falls, MN	15 mi	922	37%
Prescott, WI	15 mi	884	27%
Hastings, MN	16 mi	4,383	31%
Lake City, MN	19 mi	1,482	37%
River Falls, WI	19 mi	1,941	38%

Hospitals near Red Wing (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System In Red Wing	Red Wing, MN	3.4 mi	4 of 5	(651) 267-5000
Mayo Clinic Health System - Cannon Falls	Cannon Falls, MN	14 mi	not rated	(507) 263-6000
Mayo Clinic Health System - Lake City	Lake City, MN	19 mi	not rated	(651) 345-5955

Straight-line miles from the center of Red Wing. 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 Red Wing

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 34% of the $4,738 monthly median income of Red Wing 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 Red Wing: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Red Wing?

About 1,175 residents aged 65 or older, 37% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Goodhue County).

How much does companion care cost in Red Wing?

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 34% of the $4,738 monthly median income of Red Wing 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 Red Wing?

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 Red Wing

More senior care near Red Wing

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Red Wing

More for Red Wing 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 Red Wing, MN