Stroke Recovery Care in French Island, WI: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in French Island, WI: the local picture

4.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (La Crosse)

12%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in La Crosse County)

1.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.3% in La Crosse County)

5

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near French Island: Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc in La Crosse (4.7 mi); Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse (4.7 mi); Mayo Clinic Hlth Systm Franciscan Hlthcare Sparta in Sparta (23 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

14 French Island residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (1.6%; 7.3% in La Crosse County), and 104 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

French Island compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	French Island	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	1.6%	7.3%	5.3%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	12%	19%	16%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.8%	8.4%	5.7%
Residents 65 or older	21%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	7.0%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,579	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around French Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
La Crosse, WI	3.0 mi	8,794	8.9%
La Crescent, MN	3.0 mi	1,204	1.8%
Onalaska, WI	3.5 mi	3,955	6.8%
Holmen, WI	7.8 mi	1,556	4.9%
West Salem, WI	9.1 mi	975	9.3%
Caledonia, MN	20 mi	618	3.8%

Hospitals near French Island

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc	La Crosse, WI	4.7 mi	5 of 5	(608) 785-0940
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	4.7 mi	4 of 5	(608) 782-7300
Mayo Clinic Hlth Systm Franciscan Hlthcare Sparta	Sparta, WI	23 mi	not rated	(608) 269-2132
Winona Health Services	Winona, MN	25 mi	2 of 5	(507) 454-3650

Home health agencies serving French Island

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	La Crosse, WI	4.7 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(608) 406-3140
Commonheart Home Health	Waukesha, WI	161 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(920) 261-7108
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	63 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742
Almost Family	Eau Claire, WI	69 mi	2 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(715) 831-0631
Maxim Healthcare Services	Madison, WI	113 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(608) 232-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of French Island. 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 French Island

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 32% of the $4,715 monthly median income of French Island 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 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 French Island: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in French Island?

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 32% of the $4,715 monthly median income of French Island 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).

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 French Island

More senior care near French Island

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in French Island

More for French Island 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 French Island, WI