Mobility Assistance in East Tawas, MI

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in East Tawas, MI: the local picture

33%

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

185

residents 85 or older (6.9% of all residents)

2.4 mi

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

42%

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

About 315 East Tawas residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (33%; 22% in Iosco County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving East Tawas that list physical therapy include Mclaren Home Health and Heartland Home Health (West Branch); therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

East Tawas compared with Iosco County and Michigan

Census figure	East Tawas	Iosco County	Michigan
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	33%	22%	19%
Residents 85 or older	6.9%	3.1%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.4%	5.3%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	34%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	29%
Households with no vehicle	18%	7.2%	7.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,875	$40,668	—

Older residents in towns around East Tawas

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Skidway Lake, MI	29 mi	584	40%
Bad Axe, MI	41 mi	791	20%
St. Helen, MI	46 mi	913	23%
Essexville, MI	50 mi	694	19%
Bay City, MI	52 mi	5,720	29%
Gladwin, MI	54 mi	781	35%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mclaren Home Health	Bay City, MI	53 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(800) 862-3132
Heartland Home Health (West Branch)	West Branch, MI	37 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 345-1797
First State Home Health Care, Inc	Saginaw, MI	61 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 771-2100
Optimal Care Home Health	Bingham Farms, MI	123 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(248) 723-9613
Care 2 You	Standish, MI	32 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 846-2222
Compassus Home Health	Standish, MI	32 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 310-4003

Emergency hospitals near East Tawas

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Tawas St Joseph Hospital	Tawas City, MI	2.4 mi	3 of 5	(989) 362-9301
Saint Mary's Standish Community Hospital	Standish, MI	32 mi	4 of 5	(989) 846-3400

Straight-line miles from the center of East Tawas. 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 East Tawas

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,240 monthly median income of East Tawas households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 East Tawas: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in East Tawas?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,240 monthly median income of East Tawas households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 East Tawas

More senior care near East Tawas

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in East Tawas

More for East Tawas 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 East Tawas, MI