CNA Home Care in Brainerd, MN: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Brainerd, MN: the local picture

3

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

173

certified beds in the 3 nearest nursing homes

$18.45

median hourly wage of home care aides in Minnesota (BLS, May 2025)

$11.41

Minnesota minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Brainerd are Good Samaritan Society - Bethany in Brainerd (1.3 mi), Good Samaritan Society - Woodland in Brainerd (1.8 mi), Heartwood in Crosby (15 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Minnesota earn a median $18.45 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Brainerd has about 501 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Brainerd compared with Crow Wing County and Minnesota

Census figure	Brainerd	Crow Wing County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	3.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	30%	28%
Residents 65 or older	18%	24%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	48%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	9.0%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	13%	4.9%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,250	$56,498	—

Older residents in towns around Brainerd

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Baxter, MN	3.8 mi	2,095	440
Breezy Point, MN	18 mi	656	18
Crosslake, MN	23 mi	1,012	168
Little Falls, MN	27 mi	2,345	429
Long Prairie, MN	41 mi	887	179
Wadena, MN	45 mi	803	185

Nursing homes near Brainerd

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Good Samaritan Society - Bethany	Brainerd, MN	1.3 mi	5 of 5	79	(218) 825-2593
Good Samaritan Society - Woodland	Brainerd, MN	1.8 mi	5 of 5	40	(218) 829-1429
Heartwood	Crosby, MN	15 mi	5 of 5	54	(218) 545-8500

Home health agencies serving Brainerd

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Grand Rapids, MN	69 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(218) 326-0004
Good Samaritan Home Health	Nisswa, MN	11 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(218) 963-9452
Mille Lacs Home Care	Onamia, MN	31 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(320) 532-2800
Vivie Home Health	Alexandria, MN	66 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(320) 759-1273

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

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs costs in Brainerd

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,438 monthly median income of Brainerd households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Brainerd: common questions

What nursing homes are near Brainerd?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Good Samaritan Society - Bethany in Brainerd (1.3 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Good Samaritan Society - Woodland in Brainerd (1.8 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Heartwood in Crosby (15 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Brainerd?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 47% of the $3,438 monthly median income of Brainerd households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Brainerd

More senior care near Brainerd

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Brainerd

More for Brainerd 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Brainerd, MN