Respite Care in Prairie du Chien, WI for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Prairie du Chien, WI: the local picture

1,374

residents 65 or older (25% of Prairie du Chien)

70%

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

33%

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

2

Medicare-certified hospices serve Prairie du Chien ZIP codes

Most older adults in Prairie du Chien live with someone: 70% 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 408 Prairie du Chien residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (27% in Crawford County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 2 hospices serving Prairie du Chien ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Prairie du Chien compared with Crawford County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Prairie du Chien	Crawford County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	27%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	28%	30%
Residents 65 or older	25%	25%	19%
Residents 85 or older	4.1%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.1%	9.9%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	7.9%	6.0%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,083	$48,045	—

Older residents in towns around Prairie du Chien

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Postville, IA	22 mi	310	25%
Boscobel, WI	23 mi	533	28%
Waukon, IA	23 mi	1,054	35%
Fennimore, WI	25 mi	468	30%
Lancaster, WI	26 mi	935	24%
Decorah, IA	37 mi	1,807	22%

Hospices serving Prairie du Chien

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
St Croix Hospice Baraboo	Baraboo, WI	76 mi	(608) 448-4200
Agrace Hospicecare	Madison, WI	85 mi	(608) 276-4660

Nursing homes near Prairie du Chien (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Prairie Maison	Prairie Du Chien, WI	0.2 mi	2 of 5	50	(608) 326-8471
Great River Care Center	Mc Gregor, IA	3.2 mi	4 of 5	39	(563) 873-3527
Guttenberg Care Center	Guttenberg, IA	18 mi	5 of 5	46	(563) 252-2281
Elkader Care Center	Elkader, IA	19 mi	4 of 5	40	(563) 245-1620

Straight-line miles from the center of Prairie du Chien. 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 Prairie du Chien

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 43% of the $3,507 monthly median income of Prairie du Chien 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 Prairie du Chien: common questions

Which hospices serve Prairie du Chien?

Medicare lists 2 hospices for Prairie du Chien ZIP codes, including St Croix Hospice Baraboo, Agrace Hospicecare.

How much does respite care cost in Prairie du Chien?

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 43% of the $3,507 monthly median income of Prairie du Chien 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 Prairie du Chien. 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 Prairie du Chien

More senior care near Prairie du Chien

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Prairie du Chien

More for Prairie du Chien 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 Prairie du Chien, WI