CNA Home Care in Wadena, MN: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Wadena, MN: the local picture

5

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

366

certified beds in the 5 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 Wadena are Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena (0.9 mi), Lakewood Health System in Staples (17 mi), Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga (21 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).

Wadena has about 185 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Wadena compared with Wadena County and Minnesota

Census figure	Wadena	Wadena County	Minnesota
Residents 85 or older	4.2%	3.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	35%	28%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	34%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.8%	10%	8.8%
Households with no vehicle	15%	7.6%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,463	$43,509	—

Older residents in towns around Wadena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Perham, MN	24 mi	872	193
Park Rapids, MN	33 mi	1,210	287
Long Prairie, MN	35 mi	887	179
Baxter, MN	41 mi	2,095	440
Alexandria, MN	41 mi	3,590	713
Detroit Lakes, MN	42 mi	2,539	376

Nursing homes near Wadena

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Fair Oaks Lodge	Wadena, MN	0.9 mi	2 of 5	65	(218) 631-1391
Lakewood Health System	Staples, MN	17 mi	5 of 5	87	(218) 894-1515
Green Pine Acres Nursing Home	Menahga, MN	21 mi	5 of 5	65	(218) 564-4101
St Williams Living Center	Parkers Prairie, MN	23 mi	5 of 5	53	(218) 338-4671
Perham Living	Perham, MN	24 mi	5 of 5	96	(218) 347-1800

Home health agencies serving Wadena

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Waite Park, MN	76 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(320) 774-0777
Perham Living Home Care	Perham, MN	24 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(218) 347-1880
Vivie Home Health	Alexandria, MN	41 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(320) 759-1273
Lakewood Health System Home Care & Hospice	Staples, MN	19 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(218) 894-8080

Straight-line miles from the center of Wadena. 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 Wadena

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 54% of the $2,955 monthly median income of Wadena 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 Wadena: common questions

What nursing homes are near Wadena?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena (0.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Lakewood Health System in Staples (17 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Green Pine Acres Nursing Home in Menahga (21 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Wadena?

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 54% of the $2,955 monthly median income of Wadena 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 Wadena

More senior care near Wadena

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Wadena

More for Wadena 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 Wadena, MN