Home Health Aides in Storm Lake, IA: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Storm Lake, IA: the local picture

3

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

$17.34

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

1,432

residents 65 or older (13% of Storm Lake)

26%

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

3 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Storm Lake ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 3 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.

Storm Lake has about 1,432 residents aged 65 or older, 26% of whom report a disability.

Storm Lake compared with Buena Vista County and Iowa

Census figure	Storm Lake	Buena Vista County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	26%	30%
Residents 65 or older	13%	16%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	23%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.9%	5.7%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	53%	37%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,494	$53,036	—

Older residents in towns around Storm Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Cherokee, IA	20 mi	1,189	37%
Spencer, IA	35 mi	2,495	30%
Emmetsburg, IA	42 mi	934	38%
Carroll, IA	43 mi	2,456	22%
Denison, IA	44 mi	1,109	42%
Milford, IA	48 mi	802	23%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Storm Lake

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Unitypoint At Home	Storm Lake, IA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 749-2741
Cherokee Regional Home Health	Cherokee, IA	20 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 225-6459
Buena Vista County Public Health And Home Care	Storm Lake, IA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(712) 749-2548

Straight-line miles from the center of Storm Lake. 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 Storm Lake

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 46% of the $3,291 monthly median income of Storm Lake 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 Storm Lake: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Storm Lake?

Medicare lists 3 certified agencies whose service area includes Storm Lake ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Unitypoint At Home (4 of 5), Cherokee Regional Home Health (2.5 of 5), Buena Vista County Public Health And Home Care (2 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Storm Lake?

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 46% of the $3,291 monthly median income of Storm Lake 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 Storm Lake

More senior care near Storm Lake

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Storm Lake

More for Storm Lake 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 Storm Lake, IA