Mobility Assistance in Decorah, IA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Decorah, IA: the local picture

7.0%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (11% in Winneshiek County)

266

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

1.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Decorah)

22%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Winneshiek County)

About 119 Decorah residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (7.0%; 11% in Winneshiek County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Decorah that list physical therapy include Winnmed Home Health and Community Health Services; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Decorah compared with Winneshiek County and Iowa

Census figure	Decorah	Winneshiek County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	7.0%	11%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.8%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.6%	3.2%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	22%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	25%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.9%	4.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$51,453	$59,525	—

Older residents in towns around Decorah

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Waukon, IA	16 mi	1,054	20%
Cresco, IA	17 mi	828	15%
Postville, IA	19 mi	310	8.6%
Caledonia, MN	27 mi	618	21%
New Hampton, IA	32 mi	695	18%
Prairie du Chien, WI	37 mi	1,374	20%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Winnmed Home Health	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 387-3024
Community Health Services	Cresco, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 547-2989
V M H Comunity & Home Care	Waukon, IA	16 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(563) 568-5660
Universal Pediatrics	Dubuque, IA	76 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(563) 557-5762

Emergency hospitals near Decorah

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Winnmed	Decorah, IA	1.5 mi	4 of 5	(563) 382-2911
Veterans Memorial Hospital	Waukon, IA	16 mi	not rated	(563) 568-3411

Straight-line miles from the center of Decorah. 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 Decorah

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 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah 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 Decorah: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Decorah?

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 35% of the $4,288 monthly median income of Decorah 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 Decorah

More senior care near Decorah

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Decorah

More for Decorah 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 Decorah, IA