Get paid to care for family in Lake County
Most of the 2,890 people in Lake County who are 65 or older are cared for at home, by a relative. South Dakota Medicaid can pay you for that work.
Lake County at a glance
- Aged 65+
- 2,890
- Aged 85+
- 204
- Rank in SD
- 15th
- Median age
- 44.1
26% of residents
when daily help usually starts
of 66 counties, by residents 65+
older than the country
U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates (Vintage 2024). Lake County is a rural county (Rural-Urban Continuum Code 6).
- 50 + DC
- states covered
- 3,144
- counties with local data
- $0
- it is always free to apply
- 2 min
- to see if you qualify
Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Rules from each state's published Medicaid program
Care in Lake
What being a paid caregiver looks like here
About 2,890 people in Lake County are 65 or older — 26% of everyone who lives here. That is an older county than South Dakota overall, so more families here are already doing this work. Roughly 204 are 85 or older, the age when daily help usually starts. In a rural county, an agency aide may be a long drive away — when one is available at all. That is exactly why the state lets you be the paid caregiver instead.
Statewide, 173,800 people in South Dakota are 65 or older — 19% of the state, across 66 counties.
What South Dakota pays family caregivers
$392/week
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: South Dakota Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
South Dakota's programs at a glance
- Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver)
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Not right now
- Waitlist
- There may be a waitlist — apply early.
These rules are set by the state, so they are the same in every county. Read the full South Dakota guide →
Towns and cities in Lake County
South Dakota sets eligibility, not your town — so a family in Madison and a family at the far edge of the county apply the same way. The largest communities in Lake County:
- Madison6,086
- Wentworth169
- Ramona161
- Brant Lake56
- Nunda49
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Subcounty Population Estimates.
How families in Lake apply
You do not need a county office to start. Families in Lake County start with South Dakota's program:
Call Dakota at Home at 833-663-9673 or your local DSS office; financial eligibility goes through DSS and the LTSS functional assessment through DHS at the same time.
Or skip the phone tag — our free 2-minute check tells you which South Dakota program fits your family, then we help with the forms.
See if you qualify →Lake questions, answered honestly
Can I get paid to care for a family member in Lake County?
Yes. South Dakota runs real Medicaid programs — like Structured Family Caregiving (HOPE Waiver) — that pay family caregivers, and they cover families in Lake County. We help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
How much do family caregivers earn in Lake County?
Reported figures in South Dakota are around $392/week, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Where do families in Lake County apply?
Families in Lake County start with the state, not the county. Call Dakota at Home at 833-663-9673 or your local DSS office; financial eligibility goes through DSS and the LTSS functional assessment through DHS at the same time.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Lake County?
Yes — a spouse can be paid here. The fine print for South Dakota: yes — spouses may serve as the paid SFC caregiver; caregiver and recipient must live in the same home
How many people in Lake County might need this?
2,890 residents of Lake County are 65 or older and about 204 are 85 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimates. Most of them are cared for at home by a relative rather than in a facility. South Dakota's programs exist to pay for exactly that care.
Which towns in Lake do you cover?
All of Lake County — including Madison, Wentworth, Ramona, Brant Lake and Nunda. Eligibility is set by South Dakota, not by your town, so where you live inside the county does not change whether you qualify.
Program facts come from South Dakota's published Medicaid program rules · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
Guides
For families in Lake County
Start with the South Dakota caregiver program, then read how the pieces fit together.
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.