CNA Home Care in Emmetsburg, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Emmetsburg, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

252

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 Emmetsburg are Lakeside Lutheran Home in Emmetsburg (0.2 mi), Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg (0.7 mi), Emmetsburg Care Center in Emmetsburg (0.9 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).

Emmetsburg has about 228 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Emmetsburg compared with Palo Alto County and Iowa

Census figure	Emmetsburg	Palo Alto County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	6.3%	4.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	26%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	47%	40%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	7.6%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	3.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,250	$53,365	—

Older residents in towns around Emmetsburg

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Estherville, IA	21 mi	1,332	187
Algona, IA	23 mi	1,383	342
Spencer, IA	24 mi	2,495	423
Milford, IA	28 mi	802	47
Spirit Lake, IA	30 mi	1,217	284
Humboldt, IA	36 mi	1,089	235

Nursing homes near Emmetsburg

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lakeside Lutheran Home	Emmetsburg, IA	0.2 mi	3 of 5	55	(712) 852-4060
Palo Alto County Hospital	Emmetsburg, IA	0.7 mi	4 of 5	22	(712) 852-5520
Emmetsburg Care Center	Emmetsburg, IA	0.9 mi	1 of 5	46	(712) 852-4266
Ruthven Community Care Center	Ruthven, IA	11 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 837-5411
West Bend Health And Rehabilitation	West Bend, IA	16 mi	5 of 5	45	(515) 887-4071
Laurens Care Center	Laurens, IA	21 mi	4 of 5	38	(712) 845-4915

Home health agencies serving Emmetsburg

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Avera @ Home	Estherville, IA	21 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 362-6169
Avera At Home Of Spencer Hospital	Spencer, IA	24 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 264-6380
Palo Alto Community Health	Emmetsburg, IA	0.5 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 852-5419

Straight-line miles from the center of Emmetsburg. 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 Emmetsburg

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 39% of the $3,854 monthly median income of Emmetsburg 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 Emmetsburg: common questions

What nursing homes are near Emmetsburg?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Lakeside Lutheran Home in Emmetsburg (0.2 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Palo Alto County Hospital in Emmetsburg (0.7 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Emmetsburg Care Center in Emmetsburg (0.9 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Emmetsburg?

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 39% of the $3,854 monthly median income of Emmetsburg 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 Emmetsburg

More senior care near Emmetsburg

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Emmetsburg

More for Emmetsburg 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 Emmetsburg, IA