Personal Care in Fairmont, MN: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Fairmont, MN: the local picture

8.8%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.6% in Martin County)

26%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (22% in Martin County)

616

residents 85 or older (6.0% of all residents)

4

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

About 230 Fairmont residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.8%; 6.6% in Martin County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

672 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (26%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

616 of the 2,691 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Fairmont compared with Martin County and Minnesota

Census figure	Fairmont	Martin County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.8%	6.6%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	26%	22%	16%
Residents 85 or older	6.0%	4.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	37%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	15%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,578	$43,670	—

Older residents in towns around Fairmont

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Blue Earth, MN	18 mi	689	9.4%
St. James, MN	25 mi	712	1.7%
Estherville, IA	25 mi	1,332	8.9%
Jackson, MN	26 mi	714	8.6%
Lake Crystal, MN	34 mi	501	1.2%
Spirit Lake, IA	36 mi	1,217	4.5%

Home health agencies with aides serving Fairmont

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
United Hospital District Inc	Blue Earth, MN	19 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 526-7970
Good Sam Society Home Care Of Sw MN	Windom, MN	37 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 831-0734
Adara Home Health Inc	Buffalo, MN	110 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	102 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742

Straight-line miles from the center of Fairmont. 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 Fairmont

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 51% of the $3,132 monthly median income of Fairmont 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 Fairmont: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Fairmont?

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 51% of the $3,132 monthly median income of Fairmont 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 Fairmont

More senior care near Fairmont

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fairmont

More for Fairmont 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 Fairmont, MN