Mobility Assistance in Madison, WI: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Madison, WI: the local picture

14%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14% in Dane County)

4,039

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

1.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Madison)

24%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Dane County)

About 5,076 Madison residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14%; 14% in Dane County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

4,039 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Madison that list physical therapy include Hannah Home Health Care and Aurora At Home; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Madison compared with Dane County and Wisconsin

Census figure	Madison	Dane County	Wisconsin
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	14%	14%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.7%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.8%	4.7%	5.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	24%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	12%	8.2%	6.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,643	$72,639	—

Older residents in towns around Madison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Middleton, WI	4.1 mi	3,967	12%
Monona, WI	5.4 mi	1,869	15%
Waunakee, WI	6.6 mi	2,292	14%
Fitchburg, WI	7.1 mi	4,966	9.5%
Verona, WI	8.7 mi	2,158	22%
McFarland, WI	8.8 mi	1,488	7.7%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Hannah Home Health Care	Waukesha, WI	59 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(262) 363-2500
Aurora At Home	Milwaukee, WI	71 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(414) 327-2295
Aveanna Home Health	Madison, WI	2.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(608) 274-8193
Prn Home Health And Therapy, LLC	Appleton, WI	96 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(920) 830-9911
Interim Healthcare Of Wisconsin	Madison, WI	3.9 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(608) 238-0268
Prohealth Home Care	Waukesha, WI	59 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(262) 928-7444

Emergency hospitals near Madison

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
University Of WI Hospitals & Clinics Authority	Madison, WI	1.3 mi	5 of 5	(608) 263-6400
Madison Va Medical Center	Madison, WI	1.5 mi	5 of 5	(608) 256-1901

Straight-line miles from the center of 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 Madison

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,137 monthly median income of Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 IRIS in Wisconsin: how a family member gets paid as a caregiver.

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 Madison: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Madison?

At the Wisconsin median aide wage of $17.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,514 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,137 monthly median income of Madison households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Wisconsin'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 Madison

More senior care near Madison

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Madison

More for 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 Madison, WI