Mobility Assistance in Duluth, MN: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Duluth, MN: the local picture

16%

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

2,008

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

2.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Duluth)

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in St. Louis County)

About 2,224 Duluth residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16%; 16% in St. Louis County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

2,008 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

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

Duluth compared with St. Louis County and Minnesota

Census figure	Duluth	St. Louis County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	16%	16%	16%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.3%	4.9%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	30%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	32%	30%
Households with no vehicle	10%	8.0%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,688	$54,929	—

Older residents in towns around Duluth

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Proctor, MN	5.0 mi	732	27%
Hermantown, MN	5.4 mi	1,737	18%
Superior, WI	6.2 mi	4,778	26%
Rice Lake, MN	9.3 mi	949	12%
Cloquet, MN	18 mi	2,175	19%
Two Harbors, MN	28 mi	694	29%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Duluth, MN	2.9 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(218) 733-3485
Centerwell Home Health	Duluth, MN	2.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 677-2244
Ecumen Home Care Lakeshore	Duluth, MN	8.2 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(218) 625-7848
Essentia Health Moose Lake Home Care	Moose Lake, MN	37 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(218) 485-5506
Tru Home Health, Inc	Arden Hills, MN	128 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(612) 767-6272
Caringedge Healthcare Of Hermantown LLC	Hermantown, MN	4.2 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(218) 216-7243

Emergency hospitals near Duluth

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Essentia Health St Mary's Medical Center	Duluth, MN	2.5 mi	4 of 5	(218) 786-3574
St Lukes Hospital	Duluth, MN	2.5 mi	3 of 5	(218) 249-2449

Straight-line miles from the center of Duluth. 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 Duluth

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 34% of the $4,641 monthly median income of Duluth 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 Duluth: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Duluth?

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 34% of the $4,641 monthly median income of Duluth 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 Duluth

More senior care near Duluth

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Duluth

More for Duluth 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 Duluth, MN