Veterans' Home Care in Wadena, MN: Caregivers for Veterans

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Wadena, MN: the local picture

144

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

803

residents 65 or older (18% of Wadena)

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Wadena County)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (34% in Wadena County)

About 144 Wadena residents aged 65 or older are veterans (18% of that age group; 16% in Wadena County), out of 253 veterans of all adult ages in town.

46% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (35% in Wadena County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Wadena compared with Wadena County and Minnesota

Census figure	Wadena	Wadena County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ who are veterans	18%	16%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	35%	28%
Residents 65 or older	18%	20%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	34%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	34%	22%	16%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.8%	10%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,463	$43,509	—

Older residents in towns around Wadena

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Perham, MN	24 mi	872	19%
Park Rapids, MN	33 mi	1,210	10%
Long Prairie, MN	35 mi	887	10%
Baxter, MN	41 mi	2,095	17%
Alexandria, MN	41 mi	3,590	17%
Detroit Lakes, MN	42 mi	2,539	14%

Hospitals near Wadena

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Astera Health	Wadena, MN	0.5 mi	3 of 5	(218) 631-7489
Lakewood Health System	Staples, MN	19 mi	not rated	(218) 894-1515
Perham Health	Perham, MN	24 mi	3 of 5	(218) 347-4500

Straight-line miles from the center of Wadena. 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 Wadena

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 54% of the $2,955 monthly median income of Wadena 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 Wadena: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Wadena?

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 54% of the $2,955 monthly median income of Wadena 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 Wadena

More senior care near Wadena

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wadena

More for Wadena 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 Wadena, MN