CNA Home Care in Portage, WI: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Portage, WI: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

451

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 Portage are Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena (8.5 mi), Complete Care At Jefferson Meadows LLC in Baraboo (14 mi), Wisconsin Dells Health Services in Wisconsin Dells (16 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).

Portage has about 265 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Portage compared with Columbia County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Portage	Columbia County	Wisconsin
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	25%	28%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.9%	7.7%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	7.0%	4.4%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,264	$57,885	—

Older residents in towns around Portage

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Poynette, WI	11 mi	379	40
Lake Wisconsin, WI	14 mi	1,234	109
Baraboo, WI	15 mi	2,610	340
Lake Delton, WI	16 mi	781	50
Lodi, WI	17 mi	877	26
Wisconsin Dells, WI	17 mi	555	94

Nursing homes near Portage

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Columbia Health Care Center	Wyocena, WI	8.5 mi	5 of 5	75	(608) 429-2181
Complete Care At Jefferson Meadows LLC	Baraboo, WI	14 mi	3 of 5	102	(608) 356-4838
Wisconsin Dells Health Services	Wisconsin Dells, WI	16 mi	4 of 5	90	(608) 254-2574
Dove Healthcare - Lodi	Lodi, WI	16 mi	3 of 5	50	(608) 592-3241
Montello Care Center	Montello, WI	19 mi	1 of 5	50	(608) 297-2153
Randolph Health Services	Randolph, WI	23 mi	3 of 5	84	(920) 326-3171

Home health agencies serving Portage

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Baraboo, WI	15 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(608) 356-7570
Interim Healthcare Of Wisconsin	Madison, WI	36 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(608) 238-0268
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	99 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(715) 847-2600
Ssm Health At Home Home Health-Wisconsin	Madison, WI	36 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 924-2273

Straight-line miles from the center of Portage. 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 Portage

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 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage 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 Portage: common questions

What nursing homes are near Portage?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Columbia Health Care Center in Wyocena (8.5 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Complete Care At Jefferson Meadows LLC in Baraboo (14 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Wisconsin Dells Health Services in Wisconsin Dells (16 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Portage?

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 47% of the $3,189 monthly median income of Portage 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 Portage

More senior care near Portage

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Portage

More for Portage 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 Portage, WI