Mobility Assistance in Fort Madison, IA

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Fort Madison, IA: the local picture

20%

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

302

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

17 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (West Burlington)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Lee County)

About 409 Fort Madison residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20%; 16% in Lee County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Fort Madison that list physical therapy include Advanced Home Health Care Inc and Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Fort Madison compared with Lee County and Iowa

Census figure	Fort Madison	Lee County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	16%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.6%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.2%	5.1%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	33%	31%
Households with no vehicle	6.5%	5.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,590	$44,102	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Madison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Keokuk, IA	15 mi	2,065	18%
Hamilton, IL	16 mi	542	26%
West Burlington, IA	16 mi	631	20%
Burlington, IA	17 mi	5,107	25%
Mount Pleasant, IA	26 mi	1,634	25%
Canton, MO	35 mi	343	22%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Advanced Home Health Care Inc	Burlington, IA	18 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 753-6270
Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health	West Burlington, IA	17 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 768-3350
Optimae Home Health Services	Fairfield, IA	42 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 472-4464
Lee County Health Department	Fort Madison, IA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(319) 372-5225
Sunny Brook Home Care	Fairfield, IA	42 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(641) 472-4808
Nurse At Home	Burlington, IA	18 mi	1 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(319) 208-1353

Emergency hospitals near Fort Madison

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center	West Burlington, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	(319) 768-1000
Memorial Hospital	Carthage, IL	19 mi	4 of 5	(217) 357-8500

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Madison. 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 Fort Madison

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 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Fort Madison?

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 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison

More senior care near Fort Madison

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Madison

More for Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison, IA