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

Local figures

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

34

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

250

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (94%)

82%

of Fairfax homes have 3 or more bedrooms (66% in Linn County)

$7.25

Iowa minimum wage per hour

About 34 Fairfax 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. 82% of homes in Fairfax have three or more bedrooms (66% in Linn County); the median home has 7.3 rooms.

Of Fairfax households headed by someone 65 or older, 250 own their home and 15 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 29 owners and 0 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Fairfax compared with Linn County and Iowa

Census figure	Fairfax	Linn County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.1%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.8%	6.5%	8.4%
Residents 65 or older	14%	17%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.3%	7.1%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$72,880	$61,583	—

Older residents in towns around Fairfax

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Cedar Rapids, IA	5.7 mi	22,967	3,198
Hiawatha, IA	10 mi	1,068	123
Robins, IA	12 mi	476	43
Marion, IA	13 mi	7,523	710
North Liberty, IA	15 mi	1,513	145
Tiffin, IA	17 mi	586	16

Emergency hospitals near Fairfax

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
St Lukes Hospital	Cedar Rapids, IA	8.8 mi	4 of 5	(319) 369-7211
Mercy Medical Center - Cedar Rapids	Cedar Rapids, IA	8.8 mi	4 of 5	(319) 398-6011
Compass Memorial Healthcare	Marengo, IA	18 mi	4 of 5	(319) 642-5543

Straight-line miles from the center of Fairfax. 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 Fairfax

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 (62% of the $6,073 monthly median income of Fairfax 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 (208% of the $6,073 monthly median income of Fairfax 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 Fairfax: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Fairfax?

St Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids, about 8.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Fairfax (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (319) 369-7211. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Fairfax?

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 (62% of the $6,073 monthly median income of Fairfax 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 (208% of the $6,073 monthly median income of Fairfax 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 Fairfax?

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 Fairfax 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 Fairfax

More senior care near Fairfax

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Fairfax

More for Fairfax 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 Fairfax, IA