Respite Care in Decorah, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Decorah, IA: the local picture

1,807

residents 65 or older (24% of Decorah)

68%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Winneshiek County)

5

Medicare-certified hospices serve Decorah ZIP codes

Most older adults in Decorah live with someone: 68% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 374 Decorah residents aged 65 or older report a disability (22%) (24% in Winneshiek County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 5 hospices serving Decorah ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Decorah compared with Winneshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	31%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.8%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.7%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	7.9%	4.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,453	$59,525	—

Older residents in towns around Decorah

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Waukon, IA	16 mi	1,054	35%
Cresco, IA	17 mi	828	21%
Postville, IA	19 mi	310	25%
Caledonia, MN	27 mi	618	29%
New Hampton, IA	32 mi	695	35%
Prairie du Chien, WI	37 mi	1,374	33%

Hospices serving Decorah

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Winnmed Hospice	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	(563) 387-3024
Howard County Community Hospice	Cresco, IA	18 mi	(563) 547-2989
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp And Clinics-Hospice	West Union, IA	25 mi	(563) 422-6267
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	45 mi	(563) 933-2070
Mercyone North Iowa Hospice	Mason City, IA	72 mi	(641) 428-6268

Nursing homes near Decorah (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Highlands	Decorah, IA	1.6 mi	2 of 5	86	(563) 382-3603
Wellington Place	Decorah, IA	2.1 mi	4 of 5	56	(563) 382-9691
Ossian Care Center	Ossian, IA	11 mi	2 of 5	46	(563) 532-9440
Green Lea Senior Living	Mabel, MN	15 mi	1 of 5	41	(507) 450-5738

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 respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite 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 respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

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

Questions

Respite Care in Decorah: common questions

Which hospices serve Decorah?

Medicare lists 5 hospices for Decorah ZIP codes, including Winnmed Hospice, Howard County Community Hospice, Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp And Clinics-Hospice.

How much does respite 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).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Decorah. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Iowa.

More near Decorah

More senior care near Decorah

Respite 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.

Respite Care in Decorah, IA