Mobility Assistance in Albany, MN: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Albany, MN: the local picture

33%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17% in Stearns County)

114

residents 85 or older (4.0% of all residents)

17 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Paynesville)

44%

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

About 152 Albany residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (33%; 17% in Stearns County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

114 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Albany that list physical therapy include Aveanna Home Health and Centracare Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Albany compared with Stearns County and Minnesota

Census figure	Albany	Stearns County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	33%	17%	16%
Residents 85 or older	4.0%	2.0%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	5.2%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	14%	6.0%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,719	$52,464	—

Older residents in towns around Albany

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Melrose, MN	13 mi	850	19%
St. Joseph, MN	13 mi	787	9.7%
Cold Spring, MN	13 mi	847	20%
Sartell, MN	17 mi	2,993	28%
Waite Park, MN	17 mi	1,523	33%
Paynesville, MN	19 mi	682	15%

Home health agencies serving Albany (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Waite Park, MN	17 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(320) 774-0777
Centracare Home Health	Waite Park, MN	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(320) 259-9375
Vitality At Home	Inver Grove Heights, MN	92 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 282-8052
Vivie Home Health	Alexandria, MN	43 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(320) 759-1273
Adara Home Health Inc	Buffalo, MN	46 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 682-3005
Benedictine Home Health	Cold Spring, MN	14 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(320) 685-4110

Emergency hospitals near Albany

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Centracare - Paynesville Hospital	Paynesville, MN	17 mi	not rated	(320) 243-3767
Centracare - St. Cloud Hospital	Saint Cloud, MN	18 mi	4 of 5	(320) 255-5661

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance costs in Albany

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,643 monthly median income of Albany households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

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

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Albany: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Albany?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 60% of the $2,643 monthly median income of Albany households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Albany

More senior care near Albany

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Albany

More for Albany 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Albany, MN