Mobility Assistance in Muscle Shoals, AL

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Muscle Shoals, AL: the local picture

21%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25% in Colbert County)

294

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

0.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Muscle Shoals)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Colbert County)

About 612 Muscle Shoals residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21%; 25% in Colbert County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Muscle Shoals that list physical therapy include Preferred Home Health and Amedisys Home Health Of Florence; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Muscle Shoals compared with Colbert County and Alabama

Census figure	Muscle Shoals	Colbert County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	25%	25%
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.0%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	9.6%	7.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	41%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	29%	29%
Households with no vehicle	2.0%	4.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,463	$41,996	—

Older residents in towns around Muscle Shoals

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Sheffield, AL	3.7 mi	2,392	25%
Tuscumbia, AL	4.2 mi	1,963	29%
Florence, AL	6.2 mi	7,294	29%
Underwood-Petersville, AL	9.9 mi	787	21%
Russellville, AL	17 mi	1,593	30%
Moulton, AL	27 mi	967	27%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Preferred Home Health	Florence, AL	6.2 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 246-9972
Amedisys Home Health Of Florence	Florence, AL	6.2 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 766-1817
Centerwell Home Health	Moulton, AL	29 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 974-2741
Keller Home Care	Red Bay, AL	34 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(256) 356-8160
Enhabit Home Health	Decatur, AL	38 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 355-5746
Alabama Department Of Public Health Home Care	Montgomery, AL	181 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(334) 206-5341

Emergency hospitals near Muscle Shoals

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
North Alabama Shoals Hospital	Muscle Shoals, AL	0.9 mi	not rated	(256) 386-1601
Helen Keller Hospital	Sheffield, AL	3.7 mi	2 of 5	(256) 386-4556

Straight-line miles from the center of Muscle Shoals. 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 Muscle Shoals

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,539 monthly median income of Muscle Shoals households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Muscle Shoals: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Muscle Shoals?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,539 monthly median income of Muscle Shoals households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Muscle Shoals

More senior care near Muscle Shoals

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Muscle Shoals

More for Muscle Shoals 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 Muscle Shoals, AL