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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Rochester, MN: the local picture

3,236

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

9,555

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (77%)

60%

of Rochester homes have 3 or more bedrooms (65% in Olmsted County)

$11.41

Minnesota minimum wage per hour

About 3,236 Rochester 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. 60% of homes in Rochester have three or more bedrooms (65% in Olmsted County), while 15% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.9 rooms.

Of Rochester households headed by someone 65 or older, 9,555 own their home and 2,933 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 1,158 owners and 851 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Rochester compared with Olmsted County and Minnesota

Census figure	Rochester	Olmsted County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	29%	28%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.2%	7.4%	8.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	17%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	17%	14%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,735	$68,101	—

Older residents in towns around Rochester

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Byron, MN	8.2 mi	849	104
Stewartville, MN	11 mi	916	77
Kasson, MN	13 mi	1,037	123
Pine Island, MN	15 mi	558	104
Plainview, MN	19 mi	536	98
Dodge Center, MN	19 mi	419	44

Emergency hospitals near Rochester

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester	Rochester, MN	0.8 mi	5 of 5	(507) 255-5123
Olmsted Medical Center	Rochester, MN	4.0 mi	4 of 5	(507) 288-3443
Mayo Clinic Health System - Lake City	Lake City, MN	30 mi	not rated	(651) 345-5955

Straight-line miles from the center of Rochester. 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 Rochester

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 (74% of the $5,395 monthly median income of Rochester 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 (249% of the $5,395 monthly median income of Rochester 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 Rochester: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Rochester?

Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester in Rochester, about 0.8 mi in a straight line from the center of Rochester (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (507) 255-5123. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Rochester?

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 (74% of the $5,395 monthly median income of Rochester 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 (249% of the $5,395 monthly median income of Rochester 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 Rochester?

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 Rochester 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 Rochester

More senior care near Rochester

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Rochester

More for Rochester 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 Rochester, MN