Discover Home Care in Wisconsin

Home health care in Wisconsin can be a great option for seniors whose needs range from weekly physical therapy sessions to 24-hour skilled nursing attention. The idea is that individuals can receive care as needed from the comfort of their own home while remaining as independent as possible. Today, there are around 465 home health care agencies in Wisconsin with an average monthly cost around $4,195.

Find HOME CARE Facilities In WISCONSIN

Find Senior Caring Options by County

Home Care in Wisconsin - Cost Comparison

Finding home care in Wisconsin will vary from each city to the next depending on what services you need from a caregiver, including the degree of medical attention required. Home care services can provide you or your loved one assistance with the activities of daily life, or more involved medical care depending on the licensing of the medical professional or non-medical paraprofessional of your choice. Since these roles and license types can overlap in their duties, it’s important to have a clear understanding of one’s individual needs in order to make the best decision. 

There are a number of cities throughout WI that have senior home care agencies but for the major cities, the median monthly cost ranges from:

  • Highest Cost: Madison $5,125
  • Lowest Cost: Wausau $3,089

CityHomemaker Services Monthly CostsHome Health Aide Monthly Costs
Appleton$3,956$3,956
Green Bay$3,623$3,813
La Crosse$4,185$4,004
Milwaukee$4,385$4,385
Oshkosh$4,385$4,385
Sheboygan$4,719$4,719
Rest of State$3,909$4,052

Recreation & Attractions in Wisconsin

Wisconsin boasts a variety of unique and interesting attractions and places to enjoy throughout the state. Favorites include the House on the Rocks which is a complex made up of gardens, shops, and picturesque streets. Here can be found the world's largest indoor carousel and Streets of Yesterday which recreates early 20th-century architecture. 

Devil's Lake State Park is another great location to get out into nature. Visitors can enjoy walking paths and picnic areas, along with a unique 500-foot high quartzite bluff that is quite the sight. 

As a senior who may be less mobile, there are still numerous places to go and things to see in Wisconsin. There are senior centers throughout the state that senior-oriented activities such as dance lessons, exercise classes, technology seminars, and crafting. Specialized senior trips are also available to places such as the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, the Harley-Davidson Museum, or Lambeau Field. 

Wisconsin's Climate, Geography & Culture

The climate in Wisconsin has summers that are comfortable and winters that can bring a large amount of snow. On average, the summer high temperature is 82 degrees and the winter low is 6 degrees. These temperatures can vary drastically depending on the area of the state. With 108 days of measurable precipitation throughout the year, 32 inches of rain and 44 inches of snow can be expected.

Wisconsin has many historical sites detailing the fur trading era and Native American culture of 1802. Wisconsin is well known for its cheesemaking and dairy farming and is home to a range of heritages. Festivals like Summerfest, Oktoberfest, Polish Fest, Festa Italiana, Bastille Days, and more display a range of cultures and people living in Wisconsin. 

Crime & Safety in Wisconsin

When searching for home care in Wisconsin it can be helpful to know which areas are safer than others. Not only will one's care be more effective in a crime-free environment, but visitors and family members will have peace of mind knowing their loved one is safe. Here are some of the safest cities found throughout Wisconsin:

LocationViolent Crimes Per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Oconomowoc0.002.54
Mukwonago0.743.09
Freedom0.003.84
North Hudson0.004.21

(source: safewise.com)

Wisconsin's Home Care Regulations & Laws

Each state-approved training and evaluation program has federal oversight in order to ensure the quality of each license issued and the individual’s level of competency. Home health agencies in Wisconsin that are Medicare-certified are required to employ health aides who have undergone the approved training and evaluative measures according to federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36).

A standard 120 hours of training, along with 16 hours of supervised clinical training and an additional 12 hours of continuing education every 12 months is needed to maintain a home care certification in Wisconsin. 

Payment Options for Wisconsin Home Care

Paying for home care in Wisconsin is possible through a variety of different methods, with some more financially plausible than others. After you’ve determined the general price of home care near you, understanding how to pay is next. 

Firstly, Medicare does not pay for non-medical in-home care services. Mostly, it is used for its Supplemental Insurances to cover Medicare copayments and deductibles. In order to qualify for Medicare coverage for in-home care, it must be deemed medically necessary. 

Paying privately is also an option for many seniors through several methods. Besides using one’s own savings to pay for care, others may choose to pay through a reverse mortgage, by opening a home equity line of credit or by converting their life insurance policies.

For veterans of the U.S., the Improved Pension and Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension may be used to help pay for or cover the entire costs of home care. To learn whether you or a loved one qualifies for these benefits, contact your local Veterans’ Association or Area Agency on Aging. 

Last but not least, Medicaid is an insurance program for low-income seniors and their families able to be used as payment for non-medical home care, home health care, and other home support programs referred to as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). 

Senior & Elderly Rights for Home Care in Wisconsin

Before starting your care, your caregiver must provide you with a summary of your guaranteed rights and protections. You are entitled to make you own decisions regarding which services you want to participate in and can choose your own home health care agency. Your personal privacy and property are to be respected at all times as well. 

If there comes a point when you are unable to make decisions regarding your own medical care, you have the right to entrust this responsibility to a family member or legal guardian. Remember, you also retain your Constitutional rights and those afforded to you by the Bill of Rights as a citizen of the United States. If you believe that you have experienced a violation of your rights, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer familiar with elder law or have someone advocate for you. 

Wisconsin Home Care: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

In Wisconsin, medical records must be kept confidential except to those that are providing care, the Department of Health, and anyone else that has legal authorization to access. Upon request of the patient or decision maker, these records should be made available within 30 days.

Although it’s a common misconception that this information cannot be disclosed due to privacy laws, the fact is that you can submit a written request to your health care provider and actually receive copies or digital versions of this information. You are not required to provide a reason as to why you are making this request, although it is likely you’ll be charged a fee to receive your records. 

Finding the perfect senior care community is only part of making your loved one’s senior living transition smooth. At SeniorCaring, we know that it is also equally important to be aware of what other community services and resources are available to your family’s senior. Choose your location and find local resources for your senior.