Medication Reminders in Ottumwa, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Medication Reminders in Ottumwa, IA: the local picture

9.0%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (7.6% in Wapello County)

31%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Wapello County)

15%

of residents 65+ have difficulty doing errands alone (14% in Wapello County)

4,107

residents 65 or older (16% of Ottumwa)

About 350 Ottumwa residents 65 or older have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or making decisions (9.0%; 7.6% in Wapello County). Missed or doubled doses are a common reason families arrange reminder visits.

1,218 older residents live alone (31%), with no one at home to notice a missed dose.

Ottumwa compared with Wapello County and Iowa

Census figure	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	9.0%	7.6%	5.8%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty doing errands alone	15%	14%	10%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.9%	2.3%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	20%	15%	9.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.2%	10%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,778	$51,144	—

Older residents in towns around Ottumwa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Memory difficulty (65+)
Bloomfield, IA	19 mi	514	12%
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	8.0%
Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	2,347	11%
Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2,519	4.0%
Centerville, IA	31 mi	1,205	13%
Pella, IA	37 mi	2,017	4.5%

Hospitals near Ottumwa

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Ottumwa Regional Health Center	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	(641) 682-7511
Monroe County Hospital	Albia, IA	19 mi	not rated	(641) 932-2134

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottumwa. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for medication reminders can help with

Reminders at the times the doctor or pharmacist set
Checking a pill organizer or blister pack
Picking up refills and noticing when one is due
Keeping a simple log the family can see

Cost

What medication reminders costs in Ottumwa

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 caregiver for medication reminders

A caregiver reminds; giving medication (putting pills in the person’s hand or mouth, injections, eye drops on someone’s behalf) is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a separate state certification. Ask your pharmacist about pill organizers and blister packs, which make reminders easier to check.

Questions worth asking: How do you remind without taking over? How would you check that a dose was taken? Can you pick up refills on the way? More in our medication reminders guide.

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

Questions

Medication Reminders in Ottumwa: common questions

How much does medication reminders cost in Ottumwa?

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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).

Can a caregiver give medication?

Usually not. A caregiver can remind and check; giving medication is generally reserved for licensed nurses or aides with a state medication certification. Ask your state’s rules if you need more.

More near Ottumwa

More senior care near Ottumwa

Medication Reminders in nearby cities

Other care in Ottumwa

More for Ottumwa 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.

Medication Reminders at Home in Ottumwa, IA