Mobility Assistance in French Island, WI

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in French Island, WI: the local picture

12%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in La Crosse County)

31

residents 85 or older (0.7% of all residents)

4.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (La Crosse)

29%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in La Crosse County)

About 104 French Island residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (12%; 19% in La Crosse County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

31 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving French Island that list physical therapy include Aveanna Home Health and Commonheart Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

French Island compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	French Island	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	12%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	1.6%	7.3%	5.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	7.0%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,579	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around French Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
La Crosse, WI	3.0 mi	8,794	21%
La Crescent, MN	3.0 mi	1,204	11%
Onalaska, WI	3.5 mi	3,955	22%
Holmen, WI	7.8 mi	1,556	31%
West Salem, WI	9.1 mi	975	16%
Caledonia, MN	20 mi	618	21%

Home health agencies serving French Island (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	La Crosse, WI	4.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(608) 406-3140
Commonheart Home Health	Waukesha, WI	161 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(920) 261-7108
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	63 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742
Almost Family	Eau Claire, WI	69 mi	2 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(715) 831-0631
Maxim Healthcare Services	Madison, WI	113 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(608) 232-1000

Emergency hospitals near French Island

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc	La Crosse, WI	4.7 mi	5 of 5	(608) 785-0940
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	4.7 mi	4 of 5	(608) 782-7300

Straight-line miles from the center of French Island. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance costs in French Island

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,715 monthly median income of French Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver for mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Mobility Assistance in French Island: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in French Island?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,715 monthly median income of French Island households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near French Island

More senior care near French Island

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in French Island

More for French Island 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in French Island, WI