Home Health Aides in Forest Lake, MN: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Forest Lake, MN: the local picture

22

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Forest Lake ZIP codes in their service area

$18.45

median hourly wage of home care aides in Minnesota (BLS, May 2025)

3,501

residents 65 or older (17% of Forest Lake)

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Washington County)

22 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Forest Lake ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 8 of those list home health aide services. Agency aides are usually part of care a doctor orders. For help beyond those visits, families hire an aide directly.

Home health and personal care aides in Minnesota earn a median $18.45 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $17.60 and $21.07.

Forest Lake has about 3,501 residents aged 65 or older, 25% of whom report a disability.

Forest Lake compared with Washington County and Minnesota

Census figure	Forest Lake	Washington County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	27%	28%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.9%	6.7%	8.8%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.7%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,032	$75,658	—

Older residents in towns around Forest Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Hugo, MN	6.0 mi	2,520	25%
Wyoming, MN	6.2 mi	1,169	20%
Scandia, MN	6.5 mi	1,102	22%
Columbus, MN	6.9 mi	842	18%
Centerville, MN	7.2 mi	603	30%
Chisago City, MN	8.7 mi	1,623	32%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Forest Lake

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Brooklyn Park, MN	24 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(763) 416-0289
Lakeview Homecare	Oak Park Heights, MN	14 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(651) 430-3320
Good Samaritan Society - Home Care	Robbinsdale, MN	25 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 546-9020
Mary T Home Health	Coon Rapids, MN	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(763) 862-5426
Home Health Care Inc	Golden Valley, MN	27 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 417-8888
Accentcare Fairview Home Health - East LLC	Oakdale, MN	18 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(651) 232-2800
Presbyterian Homes Home Care	Roseville, MN	19 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(651) 631-6203
Allina Health Home Health	Minneapolis, MN	26 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(612) 863-4478

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest Lake. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a home health aide can help with

Bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
Transfers, walking and positioning
Meals and help with eating
Medication reminders

Cost

What home health aides costs in Forest Lake

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 30% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 home health aide

Federal rules require home health aides who work for Medicare-certified agencies to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, or pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 484.80). Many states add their own requirements.

Questions worth asking: Where did you train, and can I see the certificate? Have you worked for a home health agency? Which transfers and equipment are you trained on? More in our home health aides guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Home Health Aides in Forest Lake: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Forest Lake?

Medicare lists 22 certified agencies whose service area includes Forest Lake ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Lakeview Homecare (4.5 of 5), Good Samaritan Society - Home Care (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Forest Lake?

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 30% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 is the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?

Both are trained in personal care. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) has passed a state exam and is on the state nurse aide registry, and often works in nursing homes and hospitals. A home health aide is trained for care in the home. Neither does skilled nursing.

More near Forest Lake

More senior care near Forest Lake

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Forest Lake

More for Forest Lake 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.

Home Health Aides in Forest Lake, MN