In-Home Care for Veterans in Wood River, IL

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Wood River, IL: the local picture

189

veterans aged 65 or older (11% of residents 65+)

1,691

residents 65 or older (16% of Wood River)

46%

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

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Madison County)

About 189 Wood River residents aged 65 or older are veterans (11% of that age group; 16% in Madison County), out of 530 veterans of all adult ages in town.

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

Wood River compared with Madison County and Illinois

Census figure	Wood River	Madison County	Illinois
Residents 65+ who are veterans	11%	16%	12%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	35%	32%
Residents 65 or older	16%	19%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	38%	24%	20%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.8%	9.0%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,417	$57,096	—

Older residents in towns around Wood River

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Rosewood Heights, IL	1.7 mi	1,068	28%
East Alton, IL	2.2 mi	890	13%
Bethalto, IL	3.2 mi	2,119	7.9%
Alton, IL	4.9 mi	4,354	17%
Edwardsville, IL	6.9 mi	3,310	8.9%
Holiday Shores, IL	8.7 mi	498	7.0%

Hospitals near Wood River

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Alton Memorial Hospital	Alton, IL	5.3 mi	4 of 5	(314) 286-2227
Gateway Regional Medical Center	Granite City, IL	9.6 mi	2 of 5	(618) 798-3000
Anderson Hospital	Maryville, IL	12 mi	3 of 5	(618) 288-5711

Straight-line miles from the center of Wood River. 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 Wood River

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $4,201 monthly median income of Wood River households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Wood River: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Wood River?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $4,201 monthly median income of Wood River households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Wood River

More senior care near Wood River

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wood River

More for Wood River 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.