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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Onalaska, WI: the local picture

708

residents 85 or older (3.7% of all residents)

3,955

residents 65 or older (20% of Onalaska)

36%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Onalaska has about 708 residents aged 85 or older among 3,955 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.

36% 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.

31% of older Onalaska 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.

Onalaska compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Onalaska	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	20%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.6%	9.7%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	6.7%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,347	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around Onalaska

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
French Island, WI	3.5 mi	898	31
La Crosse, WI	4.6 mi	8,794	1,227
West Salem, WI	5.9 mi	975	123
Holmen, WI	6.4 mi	1,556	373
La Crescent, MN	6.5 mi	1,204	155
Sparta, WI	20 mi	1,636	142

Nursing homes near Onalaska

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Onalaska Care Center	Onalaska, WI	0.7 mi	5 of 5	80	(608) 783-4681
Mulder Health Care Facility	West Salem, WI	6.2 mi	1 of 5	87	(608) 786-1600
Lakeview Health Center	West Salem, WI	6.8 mi	5 of 5	50	(608) 786-1400
La Crescent Health Services	La Crescent, MN	6.9 mi	1 of 5	42	(507) 895-4445
Riverside	La Crosse, WI	7.5 mi	4 of 5	123	(608) 406-3900
Hillview Health Care Ctr	La Crosse, WI	7.6 mi	5 of 5	37	(608) 789-4800

Hospices serving Onalaska

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	6.3 mi	(608) 405-7592
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	6.3 mi	(608) 775-8435
Hospice Touch	Tomah, WI	37 mi	(608) 374-0250
Moments Hospice Of Eau Claire	Eau Claire, WI	63 mi	(715) 800-0900

Straight-line miles from the center of Onalaska. 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 Onalaska

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 30% of the $5,029 monthly median income of Onalaska 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 Onalaska: common questions

What nursing homes are near Onalaska?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Onalaska Care Center in Onalaska (0.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Mulder Health Care Facility in West Salem (6.2 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Lakeview Health Center in West Salem (6.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Onalaska?

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 30% of the $5,029 monthly median income of Onalaska 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 Onalaska

More senior care near Onalaska

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Onalaska

More for Onalaska 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 Onalaska, WI