Mobility Assistance in Gateway, AK: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Gateway, AK: the local picture

27%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough)

51

residents 85 or older (0.7% of all residents)

8.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Palmer)

38%

of residents 65+ report a disability (34% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough)

About 174 Gateway residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (27%; 21% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Gateway that list physical therapy include Enhabit Home Health and Ancora Home Health & Hospice; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Gateway compared with Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Gateway	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	27%	21%	19%
Residents 85 or older	0.7%	0.9%	0.9%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	7.2%	6.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	38%	34%	35%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	26%	27%
Households with no vehicle	0.5%	3.8%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$89,688	$63,354	—

Older residents in towns around Gateway

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
South Lakes, AK	3.4 mi	728	15%
Palmer, AK	4.1 mi	986	27%
North Lakes, AK	4.6 mi	1,321	16%
Farm Loop, AK	5.2 mi	425	16%
Wasilla, AK	7.9 mi	1,659	35%
Butte, AK	8.1 mi	653	24%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Enhabit Home Health	Anchorage, AK	34 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(907) 272-1275
Ancora Home Health & Hospice	Wasilla, AK	6.0 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(907) 561-0700
Wellspring Home Health Center	Wasilla, AK	6.0 mi	not rated	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(907) 357-3655
Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc	Anchorage, AK	34 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(907) 770-0862
St. Agatha Home Healthcare, LLC	Anchorage, AK	35 mi	not rated	—	(907) 302-2462

Emergency hospitals near Gateway

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mat-Su Regional Medical Center	Palmer, AK	8.9 mi	3 of 5	(907) 861-6000
Providence Alaska Medical Center	Anchorage, AK	32 mi	3 of 5	(907) 562-2211

Straight-line miles from the center of Gateway. 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 Gateway

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $7,474 monthly median income of Gateway households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Gateway: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Gateway?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $7,474 monthly median income of Gateway households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Gateway

More senior care near Gateway

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Gateway

More for Gateway 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 Gateway, AK