Dementia Care in La Crosse, WI: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in La Crosse, WI: the local picture

1,227

residents 85 or older (2.4% of all residents)

8,794

residents 65 or older (17% of La Crosse)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in La Crosse County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

La Crosse has about 1,227 residents aged 85 or older among 8,794 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 (32% in La Crosse County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

38% of older La Crosse 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.

La Crosse compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	La Crosse	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	13%	9.7%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.6%	6.7%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,247	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around La Crosse

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
French Island, WI	3.0 mi	898	31
La Crescent, MN	4.0 mi	1,204	155
Onalaska, WI	4.6 mi	3,955	708
West Salem, WI	8.5 mi	975	123
Holmen, WI	10 mi	1,556	373
Caledonia, MN	19 mi	618	61

Nursing homes near La Crosse

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Riverside	La Crosse, WI	2.9 mi	4 of 5	123	(608) 406-3900
Benedictine Manor Of Lacrosse	La Crosse, WI	3.0 mi	1 of 5	80	(608) 788-9870
Hillview Health Care Ctr	La Crosse, WI	3.3 mi	5 of 5	37	(608) 789-4800
Bethany St Joseph Care Ctr	La Crosse, WI	3.9 mi	4 of 5	100	(608) 788-5700
Onalaska Care Center	Onalaska, WI	4.1 mi	5 of 5	80	(608) 783-4681
La Crescent Health Services	La Crescent, MN	4.4 mi	1 of 5	42	(507) 895-4445

Hospices serving La Crosse

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	1.8 mi	(608) 405-7592
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	1.8 mi	(608) 775-8435
Hospice Touch	Tomah, WI	39 mi	(608) 374-0250
Moments Hospice Of Eau Claire	Eau Claire, WI	68 mi	(715) 800-0900

Straight-line miles from the center of La Crosse. 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 La Crosse

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 40% of the $3,771 monthly median income of La Crosse 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 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 La Crosse: common questions

What nursing homes are near La Crosse?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Riverside in La Crosse (2.9 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Benedictine Manor Of Lacrosse in La Crosse (3.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Hillview Health Care Ctr in La Crosse (3.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in La Crosse?

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 40% of the $3,771 monthly median income of La Crosse 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).

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 La Crosse

More senior care near La Crosse

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in La Crosse

More for La Crosse 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 La Crosse, WI