Live-In Caregivers in Eldora, IA: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Eldora, IA: the local picture

54

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

217

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (75%)

62%

of Eldora homes have 3 or more bedrooms (65% in Hardin County)

$7.25

Iowa minimum wage per hour

About 54 Eldora 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. 62% of homes in Eldora have three or more bedrooms (65% in Hardin County); the median home has 5.9 rooms.

Of Eldora households headed by someone 65 or older, 217 own their home and 71 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 30 owners and 1 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Eldora compared with Hardin County and Iowa

Census figure	Eldora	Hardin County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	3.4%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.5%	6.7%	8.4%
Residents 65 or older	18%	24%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.2%	5.2%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,154	$54,750	—

Older residents in towns around Eldora

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Iowa Falls, IA	14 mi	1,205	261
Grundy Center, IA	17 mi	629	150
Marshalltown, IA	25 mi	4,563	698
Hampton, IA	27 mi	981	156
Story City, IA	28 mi	722	186
Nevada, IA	30 mi	1,242	151

Emergency hospitals near Eldora

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Hansen Family Hospital	Iowa Falls, IA	14 mi	not rated	(641) 648-4631
Grundy County Memorial Hospital	Grundy Center, IA	17 mi	not rated	(319) 824-5421
Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown	Marshalltown, IA	24 mi	3 of 5	(641) 754-5151

Straight-line miles from the center of Eldora. 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 Eldora

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $17.34 an hour (the Iowa median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,757 a month (80% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,624 a month (270% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. 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 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 Eldora: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Eldora?

Hansen Family Hospital in Iowa Falls, about 14 mi in a straight line from the center of Eldora (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (641) 648-4631. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Eldora?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $17.34 an hour (the Iowa median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,757 a month (80% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,624 a month (270% of the $4,680 monthly median income of Eldora households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in Eldora?

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 Eldora 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.

More near Eldora

More senior care near Eldora

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Eldora

More for Eldora 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.

Live-In Caregivers in Eldora, IA