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

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Waterloo, IA: the local picture

9

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

$17.34

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

11,387

residents 65 or older (17% of Waterloo)

33%

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

9 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Waterloo 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.

Waterloo has about 11,387 residents aged 65 or older, 33% of whom report a disability.

Waterloo compared with Black Hawk County and Iowa

Census figure	Waterloo	Black Hawk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	2.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	7.6%	8.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	8.8%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,415	$57,493	—

Older residents in towns around Waterloo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Evansdale, IA	4.6 mi	998	29%
Cedar Falls, IA	5.5 mi	6,557	28%
Hudson, IA	6.4 mi	467	29%
Jesup, IA	15 mi	368	31%
Waverly, IA	17 mi	1,954	28%
Independence, IA	23 mi	1,287	35%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Waterloo

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Hiawatha, IA	46 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 393-4742
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	90 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Mercyone Waterloo Home Health Care	Waterloo, IA	1.5 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 272-5050
Unitypoint At Home	Cedar Rapids, IA	48 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—
Unity Point At Home	Moline, IL	118 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(309) 779-7600
Unitypoint At Home	Waterloo, IA	2.0 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 235-3702
Comfort Health	Rochester, MN	108 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 281-2332
Open Arms Home Health Care - Waterloo, LLC	Waterloo, IA	2.0 mi	not rated	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(319) 232-2498

Straight-line miles from the center of Waterloo. 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 Waterloo

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 37% of the $4,035 monthly median income of Waterloo 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 Waterloo: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Waterloo?

Medicare lists 9 certified agencies whose service area includes Waterloo ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (5 of 5), Mercyone Des Moines Home Care (4 of 5), Mercyone Waterloo Home Health Care (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Waterloo?

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 37% of the $4,035 monthly median income of Waterloo 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 Waterloo

More senior care near Waterloo

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Waterloo

More for Waterloo 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 Waterloo, IA