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

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Merrill, WI: the local picture

24%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17% in Lincoln County)

8.1%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (6.1% in Lincoln County)

2,041

residents 65 or older (22% of Merrill)

5

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

453 Merrill residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (24%; 17% in Lincoln County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

153 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (8.1%).

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

Merrill compared with Lincoln County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Merrill	Lincoln County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	24%	17%	16%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	8.1%	6.1%	5.7%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	6.4%	5.3%
Residents 65 or older	22%	24%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	29%	30%
Households with no vehicle	7.6%	4.7%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,153	$51,661	—

Older residents in towns around Merrill

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Maine, WI	8.5 mi	519	12%
Wausau, WI	15 mi	7,741	24%
Rib Mountain, WI	20 mi	1,821	10%
Tomahawk, WI	21 mi	659	13%
Weston, WI	21 mi	3,060	19%
Rothschild, WI	22 mi	999	19%

Home health agencies serving Merrill

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Compassus Home Health	Marshfield, WI	43 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(715) 301-7260
Aspirus At Home	Wausau, WI	15 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(715) 847-2600
Interim Healthcare Of Wausau	Wausau, WI	15 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(715) 842-7707
North Shore At Home	Gurnee, IL	213 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(847) 360-7660
Transitions Home Health Of Central Wisconsin	Stevens Point, WI	46 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(715) 544-2322

Nursing homes near Merrill

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pine Crest Health And Memory Care	Merrill, WI	1.4 mi	3 of 5	120	(715) 536-0355
Wood Aven Health And Rehabilitation	Wausau, WI	14 mi	3 of 5	82	(715) 675-9451
Wausau Manor Health Services	Wausau, WI	15 mi	4 of 5	68	(715) 842-0575

Straight-line miles from the center of Merrill. 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 Merrill

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 49% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Merrill 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 Merrill: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Merrill?

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 49% of the $3,096 monthly median income of Merrill 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 Merrill

More senior care near Merrill

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Merrill

More for Merrill 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 Merrill, WI