Hospice Support in Decorah, IA: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Decorah, IA: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Decorah ZIP codes

266

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

32%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (25% in Winneshiek County)

22%

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

Medicare lists 5 hospices whose service area includes Decorah ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Winnmed Hospice in Decorah (1.5 mi) and Howard County Community Hospice in Cresco (18 mi).

543 Decorah residents 65 or older live alone (32% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Decorah compared with Winneshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.8%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.6%	3.2%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.7%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,453	$59,525	—

Older residents in towns around Decorah

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Waukon, IA	16 mi	1,054	42%
Cresco, IA	17 mi	828	22%
Postville, IA	19 mi	310	32%
Caledonia, MN	27 mi	618	37%
New Hampton, IA	32 mi	695	39%
Prairie du Chien, WI	37 mi	1,374	30%

Hospices serving Decorah

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Winnmed Hospice	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	(563) 387-3024
Howard County Community Hospice	Cresco, IA	18 mi	(563) 547-2989
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp And Clinics-Hospice	West Union, IA	25 mi	(563) 422-6267
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	45 mi	(563) 933-2070
Mercyone North Iowa Hospice	Mason City, IA	72 mi	(641) 428-6268

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for hospice support can help with

Comfort, company and a calm presence
Gentle personal care and repositioning
Small meals and fluids as the person wants
Telling the hospice nurse about changes

Cost

What hospice support costs in Decorah

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver for hospice support

Under Medicare, hospice is for someone whose doctors certify a life expectancy of six months or less and who chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. Medicare does not cover room and board for hospice care at home (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone at the end of life? How do you work with a hospice nurse? Can you sit overnight in the last days if needed? More in our hospice support guide.

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

Questions

Hospice Support in Decorah: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Decorah?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare?

Someone whose hospice doctor (and regular doctor, if they have one) certifies a life expectancy of six months or less, and who accepts comfort care instead of curative treatment (Medicare.gov).

More near Decorah

More senior care near Decorah

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Decorah

More for Decorah 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 Hospice Support in Decorah, IA