CNA Home Care in French Island, WI: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in French Island, WI: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

462

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$17.47

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

$7.25

Wisconsin minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to French Island are Onalaska Care Center in Onalaska (2.9 mi), La Crescent Health Services in La Crescent (3.3 mi), Riverside in La Crosse (5.1 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Wisconsin earn a median $17.47 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Wisconsin's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

French Island has about 31 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

French Island compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	French Island	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	28%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.7%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	7.0%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,579	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around French Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
La Crosse, WI	3.0 mi	8,794	1,227
La Crescent, MN	3.0 mi	1,204	155
Onalaska, WI	3.5 mi	3,955	708
Holmen, WI	7.8 mi	1,556	373
West Salem, WI	9.1 mi	975	123
Caledonia, MN	20 mi	618	61

Nursing homes near French Island

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Onalaska Care Center	Onalaska, WI	2.9 mi	5 of 5	80	(608) 783-4681
La Crescent Health Services	La Crescent, MN	3.3 mi	1 of 5	42	(507) 895-4445
Riverside	La Crosse, WI	5.1 mi	4 of 5	123	(608) 406-3900
Benedictine Manor Of Lacrosse	La Crosse, WI	5.6 mi	1 of 5	80	(608) 788-9870
Hillview Health Care Ctr	La Crosse, WI	6.1 mi	5 of 5	37	(608) 789-4800
Bethany St Joseph Care Ctr	La Crosse, WI	6.6 mi	4 of 5	100	(608) 788-5700

Home health agencies serving French Island

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	La Crosse, WI	4.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(608) 406-3140
Commonheart Home Health	Waukesha, WI	161 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(920) 261-7108
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	63 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742
Almost Family	Eau Claire, WI	69 mi	2 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(715) 831-0631

Straight-line miles from the center of French Island. 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 French Island

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 32% of the $4,715 monthly median income of French Island 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 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 French Island: common questions

What nursing homes are near French Island?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Onalaska Care Center in Onalaska (2.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); La Crescent Health Services in La Crescent (3.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Riverside in La Crosse (5.1 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in French Island?

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 32% of the $4,715 monthly median income of French Island 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).

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 French Island

More senior care near French Island

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in French Island

More for French Island 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 French Island, WI