Mobility Assistance in Clear Lake, IA

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Clear Lake, IA: the local picture

22%

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

284

residents 85 or older (3.7% of all residents)

9.0 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Mason City)

36%

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

About 456 Clear Lake residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (22%; 18% in Cerro Gordo County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Clear Lake that list physical therapy include Mercyone Des Moines Home Care and Cerro Gordo County Department Of Public Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Clear Lake compared with Cerro Gordo County and Iowa

Census figure	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	22%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	3.1%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.8%	4.8%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	28%	31%
Households with no vehicle	6.4%	5.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,750	$50,066	—

Older residents in towns around Clear Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Mason City, IA	8.8 mi	6,215	18%
Garner, IA	12 mi	916	25%
Forest City, IA	16 mi	756	15%
Belmond, IA	23 mi	727	12%
Hampton, IA	28 mi	981	15%
Osage, IA	30 mi	897	11%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	108 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Cerro Gordo County Department Of Public Health	Mason City, IA	9.0 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 421-9300

Emergency hospitals near Clear Lake

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center	Mason City, IA	9.0 mi	2 of 5	(641) 428-7000
Hancock County Health System	Britt, IA	20 mi	not rated	(641) 843-5000

Straight-line miles from the center of Clear Lake. 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 Clear Lake

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Clear Lake?

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake

More senior care near Clear Lake

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Clear Lake

More for Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake, IA