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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Viroqua, WI: the local picture

142

residents 85 or older (3.2% of all residents)

1,191

residents 65 or older (27% of Viroqua)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Vernon County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Viroqua has about 142 residents aged 85 or older among 1,191 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.

27% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Vernon County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

36% of older Viroqua 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.

Viroqua compared with Vernon County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Viroqua	Vernon County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	2.1%	2.1%
Residents 65 or older	27%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	14%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.0%	11%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,485	$51,250	—

Older residents in towns around Viroqua

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
La Crosse, WI	25 mi	8,794	1,227
West Salem, WI	25 mi	975	123
Sparta, WI	26 mi	1,636	142
Onalaska, WI	28 mi	3,955	708
French Island, WI	28 mi	898	31
La Crescent, MN	28 mi	1,204	155

Nursing homes near Viroqua

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Vernon Manor	Viroqua, WI	1.0 mi	4 of 5	80	(608) 637-5400
Norseland Nursing Home	Westby, WI	7.2 mi	3 of 5	50	(608) 634-3747
Soldiers Grove Health Services	Soldiers Grove, WI	13 mi	2 of 5	50	(608) 624-5244
Bethany St Joseph Care Ctr	La Crosse, WI	22 mi	4 of 5	100	(608) 788-5700
Hillview Health Care Ctr	La Crosse, WI	22 mi	5 of 5	37	(608) 789-4800
Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center	Lansing, IA	22 mi	5 of 5	40	(563) 538-4236

Hospices serving Viroqua

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	23 mi	(608) 775-8435
St Croix Hospice La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	23 mi	(608) 405-7592
St Croix Hospice Baraboo	Baraboo, WI	57 mi	(608) 448-4200
Moments Hospice Of Eau Claire	Eau Claire, WI	90 mi	(715) 800-0900

Straight-line miles from the center of Viroqua. 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 Viroqua

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 31% of the $4,957 monthly median income of Viroqua 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 Viroqua: common questions

What nursing homes are near Viroqua?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Vernon Manor in Viroqua (1.0 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Norseland Nursing Home in Westby (7.2 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Soldiers Grove Health Services in Soldiers Grove (13 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Viroqua?

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 31% of the $4,957 monthly median income of Viroqua 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 Viroqua

More senior care near Viroqua

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Viroqua

More for Viroqua 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 Viroqua, WI