Veterans' Home Care in Onalaska, WI: Caregivers for Veterans

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Onalaska, WI: the local picture

702

veterans aged 65 or older (18% of residents 65+)

3,955

residents 65 or older (20% of Onalaska)

36%

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

31%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in La Crosse County)

About 702 Onalaska residents aged 65 or older are veterans (18% of that age group; 17% in La Crosse County), out of 1,097 veterans of all adult ages in town.

36% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in La Crosse County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Onalaska compared with La Crosse County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Onalaska	La Crosse County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ who are veterans	18%	17%	14%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	32%	28%
Residents 65 or older	20%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	22%	19%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.6%	9.7%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$60,347	$55,379	—

Older residents in towns around Onalaska

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
French Island, WI	3.5 mi	898	21%
La Crosse, WI	4.6 mi	8,794	16%
West Salem, WI	5.9 mi	975	10%
Holmen, WI	6.4 mi	1,556	14%
La Crescent, MN	6.5 mi	1,204	17%
Sparta, WI	20 mi	1,636	15%

Hospitals near Onalaska

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Medical Center Inc	La Crosse, WI	6.3 mi	5 of 5	(608) 785-0940
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center	La Crosse, WI	6.3 mi	4 of 5	(608) 782-7300
Mayo Clinic Hlth Systm Franciscan Hlthcare Sparta	Sparta, WI	20 mi	not rated	(608) 269-2132

Straight-line miles from the center of Onalaska. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in Onalaska

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 30% of the $5,029 monthly median income of Onalaska 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 a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

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

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Onalaska: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Onalaska?

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 30% of the $5,029 monthly median income of Onalaska 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 the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Onalaska

More senior care near Onalaska

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Onalaska

More for Onalaska 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.

In-Home Care for Veterans in Onalaska, WI