Mobility Assistance in Manhattan, KS

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Manhattan, KS: the local picture

13%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (13% in Riley County)

667

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

1.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Manhattan)

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Riley County)

About 654 Manhattan residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (13%; 13% in Riley County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Manhattan that list physical therapy include Elara Caring and Phoenix Home Care; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Manhattan compared with Riley County and Kansas

Census figure	Manhattan	Riley County	Kansas
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	13%	13%	20%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.2%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.9%	3.8%	5.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	25%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	4.0%	5.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,000	$65,417	—

Older residents in towns around Manhattan

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Fort Riley, KS	12 mi	0	—
Wamego, KS	16 mi	601	9.0%
Junction City, KS	17 mi	2,164	30%
St. Marys, KS	29 mi	342	18%
Clay Center, KS	31 mi	989	24%
Abilene, KS	38 mi	1,520	25%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Topeka, KS	48 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(785) 354-0767
Phoenix Home Care	Wichita, KS	106 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(316) 688-5511
Interim Healthcare Of Topeka	Topeka, KS	49 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(785) 272-1616
Meadowlark Hills Home Health	Manhattan, KS	1.1 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(785) 537-9497
Inmyhome, A Division Of Occk, Inc	Salina, KS	59 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(785) 823-2025
Accessible Home Care, LLC	Salina, KS	61 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(785) 493-8111

Emergency hospitals near Manhattan

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc	Manhattan, KS	1.1 mi	4 of 5	(785) 776-3322
Irwin Ach (Ft Riley)	Fort Riley, KS	13 mi	not rated	(785) 239-7000

Straight-line miles from the center of Manhattan. 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 Manhattan

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,750 monthly median income of Manhattan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Manhattan: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Manhattan?

At the Kansas median aide wage of $15.03 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,303 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,750 monthly median income of Manhattan households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Kansas'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 Manhattan

More senior care near Manhattan

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Manhattan

More for Manhattan 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 Manhattan, KS