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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in West Branch, IA: the local picture

85

residents 85 or older (3.3% of all residents)

199

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (87%)

75%

of West Branch homes have 3 or more bedrooms (73% in Cedar County)

$7.25

Iowa minimum wage per hour

About 85 West Branch 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. 75% of homes in West Branch have three or more bedrooms (73% in Cedar County); the median home has 6.2 rooms.

Of West Branch households headed by someone 65 or older, 199 own their home and 31 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 39 owners and 13 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

West Branch compared with Cedar County and Iowa

Census figure	West Branch	Cedar County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	2.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	25%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.5%	4.6%	8.4%
Residents 65 or older	17%	21%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	1.2%	1.7%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,056	$58,710	—

Older residents in towns around West Branch

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
West Liberty, IA	7.7 mi	450	48
Iowa City, IA	9.7 mi	9,354	1,347
Solon, IA	13 mi	469	95
Coralville, IA	13 mi	3,097	510
Tipton, IA	13 mi	626	147
North Liberty, IA	15 mi	1,513	145

Emergency hospitals near West Branch

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down	Iowa City, IA	8.8 mi	4 of 5	(319) 339-0300
University Of Iowa Hospital & Clinics	Iowa City, IA	11 mi	2 of 5	(319) 356-1616
Iowa City Va Medical Center	Iowa City, IA	12 mi	5 of 5	(319) 338-0581

Straight-line miles from the center of West Branch. 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 West Branch

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 (85% of the $4,421 monthly median income of West Branch 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 (286% of the $4,421 monthly median income of West Branch 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 West Branch: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to West Branch?

University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Down in Iowa City, about 8.8 mi in a straight line from the center of West Branch (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (319) 339-0300. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in West Branch?

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 (85% of the $4,421 monthly median income of West Branch 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 (286% of the $4,421 monthly median income of West Branch 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 West Branch?

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 West Branch 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 West Branch

More senior care near West Branch

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in West Branch

More for West Branch 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 West Branch, IA