Mobility Assistance in Durango, CO: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Durango, CO: the local picture

10%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (8.5% in La Plata County)

244

residents 85 or older (1.3% of all residents)

1.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Durango)

17%

of residents 65+ report a disability (21% in La Plata County)

About 326 Durango residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (10%; 8.5% in La Plata County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Durango that list physical therapy include Pasco/Sw Home Health and Home Health Mercy; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Durango compared with La Plata County and Colorado

Census figure	Durango	La Plata County	Colorado
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	10%	8.5%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.3%	1.4%	1.6%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.1%	3.9%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	17%	21%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	34%	24%	28%
Households with no vehicle	4.9%	2.7%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,958	$69,214	—

Older residents in towns around Durango

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Bayfield, CO	16 mi	240	4.3%
Aztec, NM	31 mi	1,000	21%
Flora Vista, NM	34 mi	401	31%
Bloomfield, NM	36 mi	1,140	40%
Crouch Mesa, NM	38 mi	424	16%
Cortez, CO	39 mi	1,775	30%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Pasco/Sw Home Health	Cortez, CO	40 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(970) 565-6833
Home Health Mercy	Durango, CO	1.7 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(970) 764-3500
Guardian Angel Home Health	Cortez, CO	40 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(970) 565-7134

Emergency hospitals near Durango

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercy Regional Medical Center	Durango, CO	1.7 mi	5 of 5	(970) 247-4311
Animas Surgical Hospital, LLC	Durango, CO	1.7 mi	not rated	(970) 247-3537

Straight-line miles from the center of Durango. 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 Durango

At the Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,830 monthly median income of Durango households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 Durango: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Durango?

At the Colorado median aide wage of $18.53 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,606 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $5,830 monthly median income of Durango households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Colorado's minimum wage is $15.16 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 Durango

More senior care near Durango

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Durango

More for Durango 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 Durango, CO