Home Health Aides in West Plains, MO: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in West Plains, MO: the local picture

6

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

$15.90

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

2,383

residents 65 or older (19% of West Plains)

39%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Howell County)

6 Medicare-certified home health agencies list West Plains ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 4 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 Missouri earn a median $15.90 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $13.75 and $17.82.

West Plains has about 2,383 residents aged 65 or older, 39% of whom report a disability.

West Plains compared with Howell County and Missouri

Census figure	West Plains	Howell County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	38%	34%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.0%	2.0%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	16%	10%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.3%	3.1%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,188	$36,839	—

Older residents in towns around West Plains

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mountain View, MO	20 mi	741	32%
Cherokee Village, AR	35 mi	1,626	34%
Mountain Grove, MO	35 mi	1,069	52%
Horseshoe Bend, AR	37 mi	806	34%
Mountain Home, AR	40 mi	4,330	39%
Ava, MO	47 mi	621	61%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving West Plains

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Rolla, MO	84 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(573) 341-3456
Elara Caring	Dexter, MO	106 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(866) 243-0042
Phoenix Home Care And Hospice	Springfield, MO	82 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(417) 881-7442
Ozarks Healthcare At Home, Home Health	West Plains, MO	0.7 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(417) 256-3133
Spring River Home Health Agency, Inc	Thayer, MO	23 mi	3 of 5	—	(417) 821-1182
Westwood Home Health	Willow Springs, MO	18 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(417) 469-4035

Straight-line miles from the center of West Plains. 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 West Plains

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 West Plains: common questions

Which home health agencies serve West Plains?

Medicare lists 6 certified agencies whose service area includes West Plains ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Elara Caring (4.5 of 5), Phoenix Home Care And Hospice (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in West Plains?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,266 monthly median income of West Plains households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 West Plains

More senior care near West Plains

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in West Plains

More for West Plains 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 West Plains, MO