In-Home Personal Care in French Island, WI

Local figures

Personal Care in French Island, WI: the local picture

1.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.3% in La Crosse County)

12%

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

31

residents 85 or older (0.7% of all residents)

5

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

About 14 French Island residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (1.6%; 7.3% in La Crosse County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

104 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (12%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

31 of the 898 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

French Island compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	French Island	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	1.6%	7.3%	5.3%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	12%	19%	16%
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	2.4%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	9.7%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,579	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around French Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
La Crosse, WI	3.0 mi	8,794	8.9%
La Crescent, MN	3.0 mi	1,204	1.8%
Onalaska, WI	3.5 mi	3,955	6.8%
Holmen, WI	7.8 mi	1,556	4.9%
West Salem, WI	9.1 mi	975	9.3%
Caledonia, MN	20 mi	618	3.8%

Home health agencies with aides 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

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 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 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 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 French Island: common questions

How much does personal 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 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 French Island

More senior care near French Island

Personal 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.