Respite Care in Lake Mills, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Lake Mills, WI: the local picture

1,189

residents 65 or older (18% of Lake Mills)

68%

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

21%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Jefferson County)

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Lake Mills ZIP codes

Most older adults in Lake Mills 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 245 Lake Mills residents aged 65 or older report a disability (21%) (27% in Jefferson County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Lake Mills ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Lake Mills compared with Jefferson County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Lake Mills	Jefferson County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	19%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.4%	8.2%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	3.0%	4.6%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$80,244	$59,050	—

Older residents in towns around Lake Mills

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Johnson Creek, WI	6.8 mi	364	37%
Jefferson, WI	7.1 mi	1,261	29%
Waterloo, WI	8.4 mi	598	41%
Deerfield, WI	8.8 mi	293	27%
Marshall, WI	10 mi	389	29%
Fort Atkinson, WI	11 mi	2,316	33%

Hospices serving Lake Mills

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Rainbow Hospice Care	Jefferson, WI	7.3 mi	(920) 674-6255
Heartland Hospice Madison	Madison, WI	19 mi	(608) 819-0033
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	28 mi	(608) 276-4660
Brighton Hospice Madison	Middleton, WI	30 mi	(608) 820-1646
St Croix Hospice Waukesha	Waukesha, WI	32 mi	(262) 796-0600

Nursing homes near Lake Mills (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Lake Mills Health Services	Lake Mills, WI	0.6 mi	4 of 5	50	(920) 648-8344
Alden Estates Of Countryside, Inc	Jefferson, WI	7.2 mi	1 of 5	120	(920) 674-3170
Rock River Nursing & Rehab	Fort Atkinson, WI	11 mi	1 of 5	87	(920) 563-5533
Marquardt Memorial Manor	Watertown, WI	13 mi	2 of 5	140	(920) 261-0400

Straight-line miles from the center of Lake Mills. 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 Lake Mills

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 23% of the $6,687 monthly median income of Lake Mills 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 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 Lake Mills: common questions

Which hospices serve Lake Mills?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Lake Mills ZIP codes, including Rainbow Hospice Care, Heartland Hospice Madison, Agrace Hospicecare.

How much does respite care cost in Lake Mills?

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 23% of the $6,687 monthly median income of Lake Mills 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).

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 Lake Mills. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver covers Wisconsin.

More near Lake Mills

More senior care near Lake Mills

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lake Mills

More for Lake Mills 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 Lake Mills, WI