Home Health Aides in Forest City, IA: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Forest City, IA: the local picture

2

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

$17.34

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

756

residents 65 or older (18% of Forest City)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Winnebago County)

2 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Forest City ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 2 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.

Forest City has about 756 residents aged 65 or older, 34% of whom report a disability.

Forest City compared with Winnebago County and Iowa

Census figure	Forest City	Winnebago County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	22%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	3.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	8.9%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	10%	6.3%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,170	$43,750	—

Older residents in towns around Forest City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Garner, IA	11 mi	916	34%
Clear Lake, IA	16 mi	2,089	36%
Mason City, IA	23 mi	6,215	31%
Belmond, IA	28 mi	727	27%
Albert Lea, MN	31 mi	4,619	30%
Algona, IA	32 mi	1,383	37%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Forest City

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Winnebago County Phns	Forest City, IA	0.8 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 585-4763
Hancock County Health System Community Health	Garner, IA	10 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 923-3676

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest City. 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 Forest City

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 51% of the $2,931 monthly median income of Forest City 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 Forest City: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Forest City?

Medicare lists 2 certified agencies whose service area includes Forest City ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Winnebago County Phns (2.5 of 5), Hancock County Health System Community Health (2.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Forest City?

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 51% of the $2,931 monthly median income of Forest City 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 Forest City

More senior care near Forest City

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Forest City

More for Forest City 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 Forest City, IA