Mobility Assistance in Des Moines, IA

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Des Moines, IA: the local picture

23%

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

3,313

residents 85 or older (1.6% of all residents)

1.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Des Moines)

36%

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

About 6,073 Des Moines residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23%; 18% in Polk County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

3,313 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

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

Des Moines compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	18%	17%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	1.5%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	5.5%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	31%
Households with no vehicle	9.0%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,181	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Des Moines

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Pleasant Hill, IA	5.7 mi	2,222	12%
Windsor Heights, IA	5.7 mi	985	18%
Carlisle, IA	7.1 mi	523	23%
Saylorville, IA	7.5 mi	705	9.4%
Norwalk, IA	7.6 mi	2,002	21%
Altoona, IA	8.6 mi	3,684	15%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	7.0 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	9.8 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Good Samaritan Society-Home Care	Indianola, IA	18 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 961-2596
Elara Caring	Chariton, IA	41 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 774-2339
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	1.2 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	73 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 794-5279

Emergency hospitals near Des Moines

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi	Des Moines, IA	1.2 mi	3 of 5	(515) 343-1000
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center	Des Moines, IA	2.4 mi	1 of 5	(515) 247-4436

Straight-line miles from the center of Des Moines. 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 Des Moines

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 37% of the $4,015 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Des Moines?

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 37% of the $4,015 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines

More senior care near Des Moines

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Des Moines

More for Des Moines 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 Des Moines, IA