Hospice Support in Onalaska, WI: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Onalaska, WI: the local picture

9

Medicare-certified hospices serve Onalaska ZIP codes

708

residents 85 or older (3.7% of all residents)

31%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in La Crosse County)

36%

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

Medicare lists 9 hospices whose service area includes Onalaska ZIP codes, the nearest offices being St Croix Hospice La Crosse in La Crosse (6.3 mi) and Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse (6.3 mi).

1,221 Onalaska residents 65 or older live alone (31% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

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+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.8%	7.3%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	20%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.6%	9.7%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,347	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around Onalaska

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
French Island, WI	3.5 mi	898	16%
La Crosse, WI	4.6 mi	8,794	38%
West Salem, WI	5.9 mi	975	36%
Holmen, WI	6.4 mi	1,556	38%
La Crescent, MN	6.5 mi	1,204	25%
Sparta, WI	20 mi	1,636	39%

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
St Croix Hospice Eau Claire	Eau Claire, WI	63 mi	(715) 598-2635
Moments Hospice	Rochester, MN	64 mi	(507) 888-9700

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 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 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 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 Onalaska: common questions

How much does hospice support 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).

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 Onalaska

More senior care near Onalaska

Hospice Support 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 Hospice Support in Onalaska, WI