Home Health Aides in West Salem, WI: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in West Salem, WI: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified home health agencies list West Salem ZIP codes in their service area

$17.47

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

975

residents 65 or older (18% of West Salem)

29%

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

4 Medicare-certified home health agencies list West Salem ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 4 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 Wisconsin earn a median $17.47 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $14.69 and $18.49.

West Salem has about 975 residents aged 65 or older, 29% of whom report a disability.

West Salem compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	West Salem	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	28%
Residents 65 or older	18%	18%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.1%	9.7%	9.1%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.8%	6.7%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,333	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around West Salem

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Onalaska, WI	5.9 mi	3,955	36%
La Crosse, WI	8.5 mi	8,794	34%
French Island, WI	9.1 mi	898	29%
Holmen, WI	10 mi	1,556	39%
La Crescent, MN	12 mi	1,204	25%
Sparta, WI	14 mi	1,636	26%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving West Salem

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	La Crosse, WI	9.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(608) 406-3140
Commonheart Home Health	Waukesha, WI	154 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(920) 261-7108
Almost Family	Eau Claire, WI	68 mi	2 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(715) 831-0631
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	71 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742

Straight-line miles from the center of West Salem. 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 West Salem

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 34% of the $4,444 monthly median income of West Salem 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 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 West Salem: common questions

Which home health agencies serve West Salem?

Medicare lists 4 certified agencies whose service area includes West Salem ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Aveanna Home Health (5 of 5), Commonheart Home Health (2.5 of 5), Almost Family (2 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in West Salem?

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 34% of the $4,444 monthly median income of West Salem 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).

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 West Salem

More senior care near West Salem

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in West Salem

More for West Salem 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 West Salem, WI