Parkinson's Care in French Island, WI: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in French Island, WI: the local picture

12%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in La Crosse County)

5.8%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (8.4% in La Crosse County)

898

residents 65 or older (21% of French Island)

5

Medicare-certified home health agencies list French Island ZIP codes in their service area

104 French Island residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (12%; 19% in La Crosse County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

52 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (5.8%).

Medicare lists 5 home health agencies serving French Island ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

French Island compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	French Island	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	12%	19%	16%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.8%	8.4%	5.7%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	1.6%	7.3%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	30%	30%
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+	Walking difficulty (65+)
La Crosse, WI	3.0 mi	8,794	21%
La Crescent, MN	3.0 mi	1,204	11%
Onalaska, WI	3.5 mi	3,955	22%
Holmen, WI	7.8 mi	1,556	31%
West Salem, WI	9.1 mi	975	16%
Caledonia, MN	20 mi	618	21%

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
Maxim Healthcare Services	Madison, WI	113 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(608) 232-1000

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

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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s can help with

Medication reminders on the schedule the doctor set
Help walking, turning and getting up safely
Dressing and buttons when hands are stiff or shaky
Meals prepared the way the care team advises

Cost

What Parkinson’s care 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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S., and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Its Helpline, 1-800-473-4636, answers questions from people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone with Parkinson’s? What helped most? How do you keep medication reminders exactly on time? How do you help someone who freezes while walking? More in our parkinson’s care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Parkinson’s Care in French Island: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care 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).

What should a Parkinson’s caregiver know?

Look for someone who has helped people with stiffness, slowness or tremor, keeps a strict routine, and knows safe transfers. Ask for a reference from a family of someone with Parkinson’s.

More near French Island

More senior care near French Island

Parkinson’s Care 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.

In-Home Parkinson’s Care in French Island, WI