Stroke Recovery Care in Decorah, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Decorah, IA: the local picture

1.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Decorah)

7.0%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (11% in Winneshiek County)

2.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (3.2% in Winneshiek County)

4

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Decorah ZIP codes in their service area

Hospitals with an emergency department near Decorah: Winnmed in Decorah (1.5 mi); Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon (16 mi); Regional Health Services Of Howard County in Cresco (18 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

44 Decorah residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (2.6%; 3.2% in Winneshiek County), and 119 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Decorah compared with Winneshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.6%	3.2%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	7.0%	11%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	3.4%	3.3%	5.8%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	31%
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+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Waukon, IA	16 mi	1,054	12%
Cresco, IA	17 mi	828	11%
Postville, IA	19 mi	310	4.9%
Caledonia, MN	27 mi	618	3.8%
New Hampton, IA	32 mi	695	1.4%
Prairie du Chien, WI	37 mi	1,374	7.8%

Hospitals near Decorah

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Winnmed	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	4 of 5	(563) 382-2911
Veterans Memorial Hospital	Waukon, IA	16 mi	not rated	(563) 568-3411
Regional Health Services Of Howard County	Cresco, IA	18 mi	4 of 5	(563) 547-2101
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital And Clinics	West Union, IA	25 mi	5 of 5	(563) 422-3811

Home health agencies serving Decorah

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Winnmed Home Health	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 387-3024
Community Health Services	Cresco, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 547-2989
V M H Comunity & Home Care	Waukon, IA	16 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(563) 568-5660
Universal Pediatrics	Dubuque, IA	76 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(563) 557-5762

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 caregiver for stroke recovery can help with

Help with bathing, dressing and meals
Safe walking and transfers
Rides to rehabilitation and follow-up appointments
Practising the exercises therapists set

Cost

What stroke recovery support 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 caregiver for stroke recovery

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year, about 610,000 of them for the first time (CDC). Many go home to recover.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after a stroke? How do you help with one-sided weakness during transfers? Can you drive to rehabilitation appointments? More in our stroke recovery support guide.

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

Questions

Stroke Recovery Support in Decorah: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support 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).

What does a caregiver do after a stroke?

Helps with personal care, meals and moving safely, takes the person to therapy, helps them practise what therapists set, and keeps the family informed. Medical and therapy decisions stay with the care team.

More near Decorah

More senior care near Decorah

Stroke Recovery Support 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.

Stroke Recovery Support at Home in Decorah, IA