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

Local figures

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

14%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (14% in Wapello County)

727

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

7.7%

of households have no vehicle (6.6% in Wapello County)

5

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

About 2,098 Ottumwa residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (14%; 14% in Wapello County).

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

7.7% of Ottumwa households have no vehicle (6.6% in Wapello County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Ottumwa compared with Wapello County and Iowa

Census figure	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	14%	14%	11%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	4.9%	4.6%	3.6%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	6.6%	5.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	20%	15%	9.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	40%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.2%	10%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,778	$51,144	—

Older residents in towns around Ottumwa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Bloomfield, IA	19 mi	514	14%
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	15%
Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	2,347	15%
Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2,519	11%
Centerville, IA	31 mi	1,205	22%
Pella, IA	37 mi	2,017	8.3%

Home health agencies serving Ottumwa

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Centerville, IA	31 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(641) 437-1117
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 226-5050
Optimae Home Health Services	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 472-4464
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	70 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 558-9591
Sunny Brook Home Care	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(641) 472-4808

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottumwa. 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 Ottumwa

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Ottumwa?

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa

More senior care near Ottumwa

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Ottumwa

More for Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa, IA