Mobility Assistance in Austin, MN: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Austin, MN: the local picture

16%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Mower County)

697

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

20 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Albert Lea)

27%

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

About 699 Austin residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16%; 16% in Mower County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Austin that list physical therapy include Good Samaritan Society - Home Care and Aveanna Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Austin compared with Mower County and Minnesota

Census figure	Austin	Mower County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	16%	16%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.9%	5.6%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	26%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	30%
Households with no vehicle	6.3%	5.2%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,515	$54,904	—

Older residents in towns around Austin

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Albert Lea, MN	19 mi	4,619	17%
Dodge Center, MN	25 mi	419	14%
Kasson, MN	27 mi	1,037	24%
Stewartville, MN	28 mi	916	16%
Osage, IA	28 mi	897	11%
Byron, MN	30 mi	849	17%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Good Samaritan Society - Home Care	Preston, MN	44 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 765-2700
Aveanna Home Health	Rochester, MN	36 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 282-2246
Home Health Care Inc	Golden Valley, MN	94 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 417-8888
Adara Home Health Inc	Buffalo, MN	113 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 682-3005
Interim Healthcare Of Rochester	Rochester, MN	36 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(507) 200-1111
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	36 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742

Emergency hospitals near Austin

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea And Austin	Albert Lea, MN	20 mi	5 of 5	(507) 377-6490
Owatonna Hospital	Owatonna, MN	31 mi	5 of 5	(507) 451-3850

Straight-line miles from the center of Austin. 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 Austin

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 39% of the $4,126 monthly median income of Austin 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 Austin: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Austin?

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 39% of the $4,126 monthly median income of Austin 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 Austin

More senior care near Austin

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Austin

More for Austin 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 Austin, MN