CNA Home Care in Decorah, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Decorah, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

339

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$17.34

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

$7.25

Iowa minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Decorah are The Highlands in Decorah (1.6 mi), Wellington Place in Decorah (2.1 mi), Ossian Care Center in Ossian (11 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Iowa earn a median $17.34 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Decorah has about 266 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Decorah compared with Winneshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.8%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	24%	30%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.7%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	7.9%	4.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,453	$59,525	—

Older residents in towns around Decorah

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Waukon, IA	16 mi	1,054	188
Cresco, IA	17 mi	828	99
Postville, IA	19 mi	310	57
Caledonia, MN	27 mi	618	61
New Hampton, IA	32 mi	695	107
Prairie du Chien, WI	37 mi	1,374	226

Nursing homes near Decorah

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Highlands	Decorah, IA	1.6 mi	2 of 5	86	(563) 382-3603
Wellington Place	Decorah, IA	2.1 mi	4 of 5	56	(563) 382-9691
Ossian Care Center	Ossian, IA	11 mi	2 of 5	46	(563) 532-9440
Green Lea Senior Living	Mabel, MN	15 mi	1 of 5	41	(507) 450-5738
Northgate Care Center	Waukon, IA	15 mi	1 of 5	50	(563) 568-3493
Good Samaritan - Waukon	Waukon, IA	16 mi	2 of 5	60	(563) 568-3447

Home health agencies serving Decorah

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Winnmed Home Health	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 387-3024
Community Health Services	Cresco, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 547-2989
V M H Comunity & Home Care	Waukon, IA	16 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(563) 568-5660
Universal Pediatrics	Dubuque, IA	76 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(563) 557-5762

Straight-line miles from the center of Decorah. 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 Decorah

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. 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 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 Decorah: common questions

What nursing homes are near Decorah?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Highlands in Decorah (1.6 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Wellington Place in Decorah (2.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Ossian Care Center in Ossian (11 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Decorah?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Decorah

More senior care near Decorah

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Decorah

More for Decorah 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 Decorah, IA