Mobility Assistance in Ames, IA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Ames, IA: the local picture

14%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14% in Story County)

1,000

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

1.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Ames)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Story County)

About 996 Ames residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14%; 14% in Story County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

1,000 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

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

Ames compared with Story County and Iowa

Census figure	Ames	Story County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	14%	14%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.9%	4.3%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,689	$69,964	—

Older residents in towns around Ames

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Nevada, IA	7.8 mi	1,242	22%
Huxley, IA	9.1 mi	525	20%
Story City, IA	11 mi	722	13%
Boone, IA	13 mi	2,272	22%
Madrid, IA	15 mi	566	29%
Polk City, IA	18 mi	874	11%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	28 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	33 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	30 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
St Anthony Regional Hospital And Nursing Home	Carroll, IA	64 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 794-5279
Aspire Home Healthcare, LLC	Morton Grove, IL	299 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(312) 788-8014
Mary Greeley Home Health Services	Ames, IA	1.3 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 239-6730

Emergency hospitals near Ames

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mary Greeley Medical Center	Ames, IA	1.3 mi	4 of 5	(515) 239-2011
Story County Hospital	Nevada, IA	9.0 mi	not rated	(515) 382-2111

Straight-line miles from the center of Ames. 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 Ames

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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 Ames: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Ames?

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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 Ames

More senior care near Ames

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Ames

More for Ames 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 Ames, IA