Respite Care in Waukon, IA: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Waukon, IA: the local picture

1,054

residents 65 or older (28% of Waukon)

58%

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

35%

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

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Waukon ZIP codes

Most older adults in Waukon live with someone: 58% 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 334 Waukon residents aged 65 or older report a disability (35%) (32% in Allamakee County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 4 hospices serving Waukon ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Waukon compared with Allamakee County and Iowa

Census figure	Waukon	Allamakee County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	29%	31%
Residents 65 or older	28%	23%	18%
Residents 85 or older	5.0%	2.9%	2.3%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.3%	6.4%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	3.7%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$33,107	$50,399	—

Older residents in towns around Waukon

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Postville, IA	13 mi	310	25%
Decorah, IA	16 mi	1,807	22%
Prairie du Chien, WI	23 mi	1,374	33%
Caledonia, MN	25 mi	618	29%
Cresco, IA	33 mi	828	21%
Viroqua, WI	36 mi	1,191	27%

Hospices serving Waukon

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Winnmed Hospice	Decorah, IA	16 mi	(563) 387-3024
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp And Clinics-Hospice	West Union, IA	29 mi	(563) 422-6267
St Croix Hospice	Strawberry Point, IA	41 mi	(563) 933-2070
Care Initiatives Hospice - Cedar Falls	Cedar Falls, IA	71 mi	(319) 232-6148

Nursing homes near Waukon (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Good Samaritan - Waukon	Waukon, IA	0.2 mi	2 of 5	60	(563) 568-3447
Northgate Care Center	Waukon, IA	0.8 mi	1 of 5	50	(563) 568-3493
Wellington Place	Decorah, IA	14 mi	4 of 5	56	(563) 382-9691
Thornton Manor Nursing And Care Center	Lansing, IA	14 mi	5 of 5	40	(563) 538-4236

Straight-line miles from the center of Waukon. 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 Waukon

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 54% of the $2,759 monthly median income of Waukon 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 Waukon: common questions

Which hospices serve Waukon?

Medicare lists 4 hospices for Waukon ZIP codes, including Winnmed Hospice, Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hosp And Clinics-Hospice, St Croix Hospice.

How much does respite care cost in Waukon?

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 54% of the $2,759 monthly median income of Waukon 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 Waukon. 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 Waukon

More senior care near Waukon

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waukon

More for Waukon 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 Waukon, IA