Live-In Caregivers in Forest Lake, MN: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Forest Lake, MN: the local picture

481

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

1,734

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

62%

of Forest Lake homes have 3 or more bedrooms (71% in Washington County)

$11.41

Minnesota minimum wage per hour

About 481 Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake have three or more bedrooms (71% in Washington County), while 10% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.9 rooms.

Of Forest Lake households headed by someone 65 or older, 1,734 own their home and 565 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 172 owners and 146 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Forest Lake compared with Washington County and Minnesota

Census figure	Forest Lake	Washington County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.9%	6.7%	8.8%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.7%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,032	$75,658	—

Older residents in towns around Forest Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hugo, MN	6.0 mi	2,520	143
Wyoming, MN	6.2 mi	1,169	95
Scandia, MN	6.5 mi	1,102	109
Columbus, MN	6.9 mi	842	15
Centerville, MN	7.2 mi	603	9
Chisago City, MN	8.7 mi	1,623	222

Emergency hospitals near Forest Lake

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Fairview Lakes Health Services	Wyoming, MN	5.9 mi	3 of 5	(952) 892-2101
Ladd Memorial Hospital	Osceola, WI	14 mi	not rated	(715) 294-2111
Lakeview Memorial Hospital	Stillwater, MN	14 mi	4 of 5	(651) 430-4509

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest Lake. 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 Forest Lake

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 (76% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 (256% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Forest Lake?

Fairview Lakes Health Services in Wyoming, about 5.9 mi in a straight line from the center of Forest Lake (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (952) 892-2101. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Forest Lake?

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 (76% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 (256% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake?

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 Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake

More senior care near Forest Lake

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Forest Lake

More for Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake, MN