In-Home Care for Veterans in St. James, MN

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in St. James, MN: the local picture

96

veterans aged 65 or older (13% of residents 65+)

712

residents 65 or older (15% of St. James)

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Watonwan County)

50%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Watonwan County)

About 96 St. James residents aged 65 or older are veterans (13% of that age group; 16% in Watonwan County), out of 177 veterans of all adult ages in town.

25% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (26% in Watonwan County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

St. James compared with Watonwan County and Minnesota

Census figure	St. James	Watonwan County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ who are veterans	13%	16%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	26%	28%
Residents 65 or older	15%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	50%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	14%	16%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.3%	8.4%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,250	$49,757	—

Older residents in towns around St. James

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Lake Crystal, MN	22 mi	501	14%
Sleepy Eye, MN	22 mi	748	15%
New Ulm, MN	24 mi	2,869	12%
Fairmont, MN	25 mi	2,691	23%
Windom, MN	26 mi	1,101	9.4%
Jackson, MN	31 mi	714	24%

Hospitals near St. James

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System St. James	St James, MN	0.3 mi	not rated	(507) 375-8602
Madelia Health	Madelia, MN	12 mi	not rated	(507) 642-3255
Sleepy Eye Medical Center	Sleepy Eye, MN	21 mi	not rated	(507) 794-3571

Straight-line miles from the center of St. James. 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 St. James

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,021 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 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 St. James: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in St. James?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $3,021 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 St. James

More senior care near St. James

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in St. James

More for St. James 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.