CNA Home Care in Forest Lake, MN: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Forest Lake, MN: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

437

certified beds in the 6 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 Forest Lake are Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake (2.5 mi), Meadows On Fairview in Wyoming (5.0 mi), Parmly On The Lake LLC in Chisago City (8.4 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).

Forest Lake has about 481 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Forest Lake compared with Washington County and Minnesota

Census figure	Forest Lake	Washington County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	1.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	27%	28%
Residents 65 or older	17%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.9%	6.7%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	3.8%	3.8%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,032	$75,658	—

Older residents in towns around Forest Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Hugo, MN	6.0 mi	2,520	143
Wyoming, MN	6.2 mi	1,169	95
Scandia, MN	6.5 mi	1,102	109
Columbus, MN	6.9 mi	842	15
Centerville, MN	7.2 mi	603	9
Chisago City, MN	8.7 mi	1,623	222

Nursing homes near Forest Lake

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Birchwood Health Care Center	Forest Lake, MN	2.5 mi	2 of 5	100	(651) 464-5600
Meadows On Fairview	Wyoming, MN	5.0 mi	4 of 5	14	(651) 466-1300
Parmly On The Lake LLC	Chisago City, MN	8.4 mi	2 of 5	91	(651) 257-0575
Waverly Gardens	North Oaks, MN	9.8 mi	3 of 5	60	(651) 765-4063
Cerenity Care Center White Bear Lake	White Bear Lake, MN	12 mi	4 of 5	132	(651) 232-1818
Christian Community Home Of Osceola, Inc	Osceola, WI	14 mi	2 of 5	40	(715) 294-1100

Home health agencies serving Forest Lake

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Brooklyn Park, MN	24 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(763) 416-0289
Lakeview Homecare	Oak Park Heights, MN	14 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(651) 430-3320
Good Samaritan Society - Home Care	Robbinsdale, MN	25 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 546-9020
Mary T Home Health	Coon Rapids, MN	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(763) 862-5426

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest Lake. 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 Forest Lake

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 30% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake: common questions

What nursing homes are near Forest Lake?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake (2.5 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Meadows On Fairview in Wyoming (5.0 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Parmly On The Lake LLC in Chisago City (8.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Forest Lake?

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 30% of the $5,253 monthly median income of Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake

More senior care near Forest Lake

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Forest Lake

More for Forest Lake 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 Forest Lake, MN