Mobility Assistance in West Salem, WI

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in West Salem, WI: the local picture

16%

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

123

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

9.5 mi

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

29%

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

About 133 West Salem residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16%; 19% in La Crosse County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

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

West Salem compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	West Salem	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	16%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.3%	7.3%	5.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	7.0%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,333	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around West Salem

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Onalaska, WI	5.9 mi	3,955	22%
La Crosse, WI	8.5 mi	8,794	21%
French Island, WI	9.1 mi	898	12%
Holmen, WI	10 mi	1,556	31%
La Crescent, MN	12 mi	1,204	11%
Sparta, WI	14 mi	1,636	19%

Home health agencies serving West Salem (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	La Crosse, WI	9.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(608) 406-3140
Commonheart Home Health	Waukesha, WI	154 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(920) 261-7108
Almost Family	Eau Claire, WI	68 mi	2 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(715) 831-0631
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	71 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742

Emergency hospitals near West Salem

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc	La Crosse, WI	9.5 mi	5 of 5	(608) 785-0940
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	9.5 mi	4 of 5	(608) 782-7300

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

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 34% of the $4,444 monthly median income of West Salem 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 West Salem: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in West Salem?

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 34% of the $4,444 monthly median income of West Salem 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 West Salem

More senior care near West Salem

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in West Salem

More for West Salem 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 West Salem, WI