Respite Care in Tomah, WI: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Tomah, WI: the local picture

1,987

residents 65 or older (21% of Tomah)

48%

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

47%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Monroe County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Tomah ZIP codes

Most older adults in Tomah live with someone: 48% 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 885 Tomah residents aged 65 or older report a disability (47%) (32% in Monroe County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Tomah ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Tomah compared with Monroe County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Tomah	Monroe County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with a disability	47%	32%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	52%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	19%
Residents 85 or older	4.8%	2.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	11%	9.1%
Households with no vehicle	12%	8.3%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,931	$49,811	—

Older residents in towns around Tomah

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Sparta, WI	16 mi	1,636	26%
New Lisbon, WI	19 mi	331	32%
Mauston, WI	25 mi	880	45%
Black River Falls, WI	27 mi	917	22%
West Salem, WI	30 mi	975	29%
Viroqua, WI	35 mi	1,191	27%

Hospices serving Tomah

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Hospice Touch	Tomah, WI	1.4 mi	(608) 374-0250
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	38 mi	(608) 775-8435
St Croix Hospice La Crosse	La Crosse, WI	38 mi	(608) 405-7592
St Croix Hospice Baraboo	Baraboo, WI	51 mi	(608) 448-4200
Moments Hospice Of Eau Claire	Eau Claire, WI	74 mi	(715) 800-0900

Nursing homes near Tomah (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Tomah Nursing And Rehab	Tomah, WI	1.3 mi	2 of 5	74	(608) 372-3241
Rolling Hills Rehab Ctr	Sparta, WI	16 mi	3 of 5	50	(608) 269-8800
Morrow Memorial Home	Sparta, WI	16 mi	5 of 5	78	(608) 269-3168
Crest View Nursing Home	New Lisbon, WI	18 mi	5 of 5	50	(608) 562-3667

Straight-line miles from the center of Tomah. 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 Tomah

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 42% of the $3,578 monthly median income of Tomah 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 Tomah: common questions

Which hospices serve Tomah?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Tomah ZIP codes, including Hospice Touch, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, St Croix Hospice La Crosse.

How much does respite care cost in Tomah?

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 42% of the $3,578 monthly median income of Tomah 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 Tomah. 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 Tomah

More senior care near Tomah

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Tomah

More for Tomah 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 Tomah, WI