Personal Care in Decorah, IA: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Decorah, IA: the local picture

2.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (3.2% in Winneshiek County)

7.0%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (11% in Winneshiek County)

266

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

4

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

About 44 Decorah residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (2.6%; 3.2% in Winneshiek County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

119 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (7.0%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

266 of the 1,807 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Decorah compared with Winneshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.6%	3.2%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	7.0%	11%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.8%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.7%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,453	$59,525	—

Older residents in towns around Decorah

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Waukon, IA	16 mi	1,054	12%
Cresco, IA	17 mi	828	11%
Postville, IA	19 mi	310	4.9%
Caledonia, MN	27 mi	618	3.8%
New Hampton, IA	32 mi	695	1.4%
Prairie du Chien, WI	37 mi	1,374	7.8%

Home health agencies with aides serving Decorah

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Winnmed Home Health	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 387-3024
Community Health Services	Cresco, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 547-2989
V M H Comunity & Home Care	Waukon, IA	16 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(563) 568-5660
Universal Pediatrics	Dubuque, IA	76 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(563) 557-5762

Straight-line miles from the center of Decorah. 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 Decorah

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 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 Decorah: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Decorah?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Decorah

More senior care near Decorah

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Decorah

More for Decorah 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 Personal Care in Decorah, IA