Albert Lea, Minnesota

Live-In Caregivers in Albert Lea, MN

A caregiver who lives in the home, for someone who needs help across the day and a person nearby at night. Post what you need in Albert Lea for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Albert Lea, MN: the local picture

967
residents 85 or older (5.3% of all residents)
2,340
households headed by someone 65+ own their home (78%)
58%
of Albert Lea homes have 3 or more bedrooms (65% in Freeborn County)
$11.41
Minnesota minimum wage per hour

About 967 Albert Lea residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.

A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 58% of homes in Albert Lea have three or more bedrooms (65% in Freeborn County), while 10% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.6 rooms.

Of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65 or older, 2,340 own their home and 661 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 418 owners and 316 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Albert Lea compared with Freeborn County and Minnesota

Census figureAlbert LeaFreeborn CountyMinnesota
Residents 85 or older5.3%3.8%2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone36%31%30%
Residents 65+ with a disability30%29%28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)7.5%6.8%8.8%
Residents 65 or older25%23%17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home11%8.6%12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+$42,241$49,381—

Older residents in towns around Albert Lea

TownDistanceResidents 65+Residents 85+
Austin, MN19 mi4,489697
Waseca, MN30 mi1,516255
Forest City, IA31 mi756102
Owatonna, MN31 mi5,174770
Clear Lake, IA36 mi2,089284
Mason City, IA36 mi6,215830

Emergency hospitals near Albert Lea

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea And AustinAlbert Lea, MN0.3 mi5 of 5(507) 377-6490
Owatonna HospitalOwatonna, MN30 mi5 of 5(507) 451-3850
Mayo Clinic Health System - WasecaWaseca, MN31 minot rated(507) 835-1210

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

What it covers

What a live-in caregiver can help with

  • Help across the day: meals, housekeeping, personal care
  • Someone in the home overnight if help is needed
  • Medication reminders and appointment rides
  • Companionship and a steady routine
Cost

What live-in care costs in Albert Lea

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.45 an hour (the Minnesota median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,998 a month (114% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,432 a month (382% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. 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 live-in caregiver

Put the arrangement in writing: hours on duty, sleep time, days off, the room and pay (federal rules: DOL Fact Sheet 79B).

Questions worth asking: Have you lived in with a client before, and for how long? What days off and sleep time do you need? How do you handle being woken at night? More in our live-in caregivers guide.

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

Questions

Live-In Caregivers in Albert Lea: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Albert Lea?

Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea And Austin in Albert Lea, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Albert Lea (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (507) 377-6490. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Albert Lea?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.45 an hour (the Minnesota median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,998 a month (114% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,432 a month (382% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in Albert Lea?

A live-in caregiver sleeps in the home and has protected sleep and break time. 24-hour care uses two or three caregivers in shifts so someone is always awake; in Albert Lea it costs more than three times as much a month (see the cost section above). Choose shifts if help is needed several times a night.

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.

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