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

Local figures

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

7.4%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (8.1% in Story County)

915

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

7.2%

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

16

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

About 3,891 Ames residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (7.4%; 8.1% in Story County).

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

7.2% of Ames households have no vehicle (5.8% in Story County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Ames compared with Story County and Iowa

Census figure	Ames	Story County	Iowa
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	7.4%	8.1%	11%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	1.7%	2.3%	3.6%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.8%	5.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	11%	9.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.5%	5.6%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,689	$69,964	—

Older residents in towns around Ames

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Nevada, IA	7.8 mi	1,242	13%
Huxley, IA	9.1 mi	525	11%
Story City, IA	11 mi	722	8.1%
Boone, IA	13 mi	2,272	13%
Madrid, IA	15 mi	566	6.6%
Polk City, IA	18 mi	874	6.0%

Home health agencies serving Ames

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	28 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	33 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	30 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
St Anthony Regional Hospital And Nursing Home	Carroll, IA	64 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 794-5279
Aspire Home Healthcare, LLC	Morton Grove, IL	299 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(312) 788-8014

Straight-line miles from the center of Ames. 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 Ames

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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 Ames: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Ames?

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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 Ames

More senior care near Ames

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Ames

More for Ames 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 Ames, IA