CNA Home Care in Melrose, MN: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Melrose, MN: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

345

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 Melrose are Cura Of Melrose in Melrose (0.4 mi), Cura Of Sauk Centre in Sauk Centre (8.3 mi), Benedictine Living Community Mother Of Mercy in Albany (12 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).

Melrose has about 87 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Melrose compared with Stearns County and Minnesota

Census figure	Melrose	Stearns County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	30%	28%
Residents 65 or older	23%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	57%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	11%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	7.3%	6.0%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,964	$52,464	—

Older residents in towns around Melrose

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Sauk Centre, MN	7.8 mi	1,171	355
Albany, MN	13 mi	519	114
Long Prairie, MN	21 mi	887	179
Paynesville, MN	21 mi	682	117
Cold Spring, MN	24 mi	847	249
St. Joseph, MN	26 mi	787	117

Nursing homes near Melrose

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Cura Of Melrose	Melrose, MN	0.4 mi	2 of 5	75	(320) 256-4474
Cura Of Sauk Centre	Sauk Centre, MN	8.3 mi	3 of 5	60	(320) 352-2221
Benedictine Living Community Mother Of Mercy	Albany, MN	12 mi	2 of 5	76	(320) 845-2195
Belgrade Nursing Home	Belgrade, MN	18 mi	4 of 5	34	(320) 254-8215
Cura Of Long Prairie	Long Prairie, MN	21 mi	4 of 5	60	(320) 339-2366
Galeon	Osakis, MN	21 mi	5 of 5	40	(320) 859-2142

Home health agencies serving Melrose

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Waite Park, MN	30 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(320) 774-0777
Centracare Home Health	Waite Park, MN	30 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(320) 259-9375
Vitality At Home	Inver Grove Heights, MN	104 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 282-8052
Vivie Home Health	Alexandria, MN	31 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 Melrose. 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 Melrose

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 60% of the $2,664 monthly median income of Melrose 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 Melrose: common questions

What nursing homes are near Melrose?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Cura Of Melrose in Melrose (0.4 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Cura Of Sauk Centre in Sauk Centre (8.3 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Benedictine Living Community Mother Of Mercy in Albany (12 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Melrose?

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 60% of the $2,664 monthly median income of Melrose 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 Melrose

More senior care near Melrose

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Melrose

More for Melrose 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 Melrose, MN