Mobility Assistance in Altoona, IA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Altoona, IA: the local picture

15%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18% in Polk County)

311

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

8.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Des Moines)

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Polk County)

About 545 Altoona residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (15%; 18% in Polk County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

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

Altoona compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Altoona	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	15%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.2%	5.5%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	32%	31%
Households with no vehicle	3.7%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,263	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Altoona

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Bondurant, IA	3.5 mi	577	11%
Pleasant Hill, IA	3.8 mi	2,222	12%
Mitchellville, IA	6.0 mi	263	9.3%
Saylorville, IA	7.9 mi	705	9.4%
Ankeny, IA	8.3 mi	8,466	14%
Des Moines, IA	8.6 mi	27,045	23%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	13 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	17 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Elara Caring	Chariton, IA	44 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 774-2339
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	8.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Angels Care Home Health Of Iowa	Des Moines, IA	10 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 252-2847
Unitypoint At Home	Urbandale, IA	13 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 557-3100

Emergency hospitals near Altoona

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi	Des Moines, IA	8.5 mi	3 of 5	(515) 343-1000
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center	Des Moines, IA	8.6 mi	1 of 5	(515) 247-4436

Straight-line miles from the center of Altoona. 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 Altoona

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 $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona 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 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 Altoona: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Altoona?

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 $4,022 monthly median income of Altoona 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 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 Altoona

More senior care near Altoona

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Altoona

More for Altoona 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 Altoona, IA