Adult Disability Care in Altoona, IA: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in Altoona, IA: the local picture

14%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (9.9% in Polk County)

1,010

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

3.7%

of households have no vehicle (5.8% in Polk County)

14

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Altoona ZIP codes in their service area

About 1,698 Altoona residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (14%; 9.9% in Polk County).

1,010 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

3.7% of Altoona households have no vehicle (5.8% in Polk County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Altoona compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Altoona	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	14%	9.9%	11%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	8.2%	3.2%	3.6%
Households with no vehicle	3.7%	5.8%	5.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.2%	15%	9.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.6%	7.5%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,263	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Altoona

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Bondurant, IA	3.5 mi	577	4.4%
Pleasant Hill, IA	3.8 mi	2,222	7.6%
Mitchellville, IA	6.0 mi	263	12%
Saylorville, IA	7.9 mi	705	3.6%
Ankeny, IA	8.3 mi	8,466	5.8%
Des Moines, IA	8.6 mi	27,045	13%

Home health agencies serving Altoona

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	17 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Elara Caring	Chariton, IA	44 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 774-2339
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	8.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Angels Care Home Health Of Iowa	Des Moines, IA	10 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 252-2847

Straight-line miles from the center of Altoona. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a disability support caregiver can help with

Personal care, on the person’s terms
Cooking, shopping and housekeeping
Getting to work, school, appointments and activities
Keeping routines the person sets

Cost

What disability care for adults costs in Altoona

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 disability support caregiver

Many state Medicaid programs let adults with disabilities direct their own care: they, or a representative, hire and supervise the caregiver.

Questions worth asking: Have you supported adults with a disability like mine (or my family member’s)? How do you support someone to do things themselves? Can you drive to work, school or day programs? More in our disability care for adults guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Disability Care for Adults in Altoona: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Altoona?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can an adult with a disability hire their own caregiver?

Yes. Many state Medicaid programs offer self-direction, where the person or a representative hires and supervises the caregiver. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Iowa.

More near Altoona

More senior care near Altoona

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Altoona

More for Altoona 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 Support for Adults With Disabilities in Altoona, IA