Mobility Assistance in New Orleans, LA

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in New Orleans, LA: the local picture

23%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs

6,690

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

2.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (New Orleans)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability

About 14,041 New Orleans residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23%). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

6,690 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving New Orleans that list physical therapy include Vitalcaring Group and Elara Caring; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

New Orleans compared with Louisiana

Census figure	New Orleans	Louisiana
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	25%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.2%	8.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	31%
Households with no vehicle	17%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,078	—

Older residents in towns around New Orleans

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Chalmette, LA	7.8 mi	2,851	30%
Arabi, LA	7.9 mi	676	42%
Meraux, LA	8.8 mi	877	32%
Violet, LA	11 mi	744	35%
Terrytown, LA	12 mi	2,876	21%
Gretna, LA	12 mi	2,846	22%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Vitalcaring Group	Metairie, LA	15 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(504) 831-1190
Elara Caring	Metairie, LA	16 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(504) 469-3849
Southeast Louisiana Home Health, LLC	Covington, LA	32 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(985) 892-8008
Elara Caring	Hammond, LA	44 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(985) 340-8000
Amedisys Home Health Care	Metairie, LA	14 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(504) 838-7080
Omni Home Care	Mandeville, LA	26 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(985) 674-5175

Emergency hospitals near New Orleans

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
New Orleans East Hospital	New Orleans, LA	2.9 mi	not rated	(504) 592-6600
St Bernard Parish Hospital	Chalmette, LA	7.6 mi	4 of 5	(504) 826-9500

Straight-line miles from the center of New Orleans. 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 New Orleans

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana 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 New Orleans: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in New Orleans?

At the Louisiana median aide wage of $10.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $939 a month in wages, which is 27% of the $3,423 monthly median income of New Orleans households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Louisiana 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 New Orleans

More senior care near New Orleans

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in New Orleans

More for New Orleans 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 New Orleans, LA