Mobility Assistance in De Soto, MO: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in De Soto, MO: the local picture

30%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (22% in Jefferson County)

65

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

12 mi

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

42%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Jefferson County)

About 286 De Soto residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (30%; 22% in Jefferson County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving De Soto that list physical therapy include Elara Caring and Aw Health Care; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

De Soto compared with Jefferson County and Missouri

Census figure	De Soto	Jefferson County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	30%	22%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.5%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	5.8%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	34%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	24%	30%
Households with no vehicle	9.4%	3.7%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$36,619	$57,683	—

Older residents in towns around De Soto

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Hillsboro, MO	6.4 mi	393	27%
Festus, MO	9.8 mi	2,090	30%
Crystal City, MO	11 mi	961	22%
Herculaneum, MO	12 mi	814	14%
Pevely, MO	13 mi	811	27%
Bonne Terre, MO	15 mi	848	28%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Farmington, MO	27 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(866) 431-3956
Aw Health Care	Saint Louis, MO	39 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(314) 726-5600
Centerwell Home Health	Rolla, MO	67 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(573) 341-3456
Amedisys Home Health Of Missouri	Hillsboro, MO	8.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(636) 789-4715
St Luke's Home Health Services	Chesterfield, MO	35 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(314) 205-6612
Aspire Home Healthcare, LLC	Morton Grove, IL	307 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(312) 788-8014

Emergency hospitals near De Soto

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercy Hospital Jefferson	Crystal City, MO	12 mi	4 of 5	(636) 933-1000
Parkland Health Center - Bonne Terre	Bonne Terre, MO	15 mi	not rated	(573) 358-1400

Straight-line miles from the center of De Soto. 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 De Soto

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,052 monthly median income of De Soto households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 De Soto: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in De Soto?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,052 monthly median income of De Soto households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 De Soto

More senior care near De Soto

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in De Soto

More for De Soto 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 De Soto, MO