Home Health Aides in Ames, IA: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Ames, IA: the local picture

16

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

$17.34

median hourly wage of home care aides in Iowa (BLS, May 2025)

7,494

residents 65 or older (11% of Ames)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Story County)

16 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Ames ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 8 of those list home health aide services. Agency aides are usually part of care a doctor orders. For help beyond those visits, families hire an aide directly.

Home health and personal care aides in Iowa earn a median $17.34 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $16.14 and $19.05.

Ames has about 7,494 residents aged 65 or older, 27% of whom report a disability.

Ames compared with Story County and Iowa

Census figure	Ames	Story County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	11%	13%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.5%	5.6%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	11%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,689	$69,964	—

Older residents in towns around Ames

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Nevada, IA	7.8 mi	1,242	29%
Huxley, IA	9.1 mi	525	32%
Story City, IA	11 mi	722	26%
Boone, IA	13 mi	2,272	35%
Madrid, IA	15 mi	566	41%
Polk City, IA	18 mi	874	24%

Medicare-certified 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
Mary Greeley Home Health Services	Ames, IA	1.3 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 239-6730
Angels Care Home Health Of Iowa	Des Moines, IA	28 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 252-2847
Unitypoint At Home	Urbandale, IA	28 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 557-3100

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 home health aide can help with

Bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
Transfers, walking and positioning
Meals and help with eating
Medication reminders

Cost

What home health aides 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 home health aide

Federal rules require home health aides who work for Medicare-certified agencies to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, or pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 484.80). Many states add their own requirements.

Questions worth asking: Where did you train, and can I see the certificate? Have you worked for a home health agency? Which transfers and equipment are you trained on? More in our home health aides guide.

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

Questions

Home Health Aides in Ames: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Ames?

Medicare lists 16 certified agencies whose service area includes Ames ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Aveanna Healthcare (5 of 5), Mercyone Des Moines Home Care (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides 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).

What is the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?

Both are trained in personal care. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) has passed a state exam and is on the state nurse aide registry, and often works in nursing homes and hospitals. A home health aide is trained for care in the home. Neither does skilled nursing.

More near Ames

More senior care near Ames

Home Health Aides 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.

Home Health Aides in Ames, IA