Mobility Assistance in Ottumwa, IA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Ottumwa, IA: the local picture

25%

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

773

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

0.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Ottumwa)

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (40% in Wapello County)

About 991 Ottumwa residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25%; 25% in Wapello County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Ottumwa that list physical therapy include Elara Caring and Iowa Home Care, L L C; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Ottumwa compared with Wapello County and Iowa

Census figure	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	25%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.9%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.5%	5.6%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	40%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	6.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,778	$51,144	—

Older residents in towns around Ottumwa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Bloomfield, IA	19 mi	514	26%
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	30%
Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	2,347	24%
Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2,519	7.7%
Centerville, IA	31 mi	1,205	22%
Pella, IA	37 mi	2,017	21%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Centerville, IA	31 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(641) 437-1117
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 226-5050
Optimae Home Health Services	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 472-4464
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	70 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 558-9591
Sunny Brook Home Care	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(641) 472-4808

Emergency hospitals near Ottumwa

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Ottumwa Regional Health Center	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	(641) 682-7511
Monroe County Hospital	Albia, IA	19 mi	not rated	(641) 932-2134

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottumwa. 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 Ottumwa

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Ottumwa: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Ottumwa?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa'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 Ottumwa

More senior care near Ottumwa

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Ottumwa

More for Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa, IA