In-Home Personal Care in Albert Lea, MN

Local figures

Personal Care in Albert Lea, MN: the local picture

5.9%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.6% in Freeborn County)

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Freeborn County)

967

residents 85 or older (5.3% of all residents)

6

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

About 257 Albert Lea residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.9%; 5.6% in Freeborn County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

752 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

967 of the 4,619 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Albert Lea compared with Freeborn County and Minnesota

Census figure	Albert Lea	Freeborn County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.9%	5.6%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	16%	16%
Residents 85 or older	5.3%	3.8%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	29%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	6.8%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,241	$49,381	—

Older residents in towns around Albert Lea

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Austin, MN	19 mi	4,489	5.9%
Waseca, MN	30 mi	1,516	4.8%
Forest City, IA	31 mi	756	6.3%
Owatonna, MN	31 mi	5,174	4.8%
Clear Lake, IA	36 mi	2,089	8.8%
Mason City, IA	36 mi	6,215	4.0%

Home health agencies with aides serving Albert Lea

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Good Samaritan Society - Home Care	Preston, MN	63 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 765-2700
Aveanna Home Health	Rochester, MN	51 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 282-2246
Home Health Care Inc	Golden Valley, MN	93 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 417-8888
Adara Home Health Inc	Buffalo, MN	108 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 682-3005
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	51 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742
Regency Home Healthcare Services, LLC	Maple Grove, MN	102 mi	1 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(651) 488-4655

Straight-line miles from the center of Albert Lea. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal care costs in Albert Lea

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 45% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea 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 personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

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

Questions

Personal Care in Albert Lea: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Albert Lea?

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 45% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea 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).

What is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Albert Lea

More senior care near Albert Lea

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Albert Lea

More for Albert Lea 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.