Mobility Assistance in Pella, IA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Pella, IA: the local picture

21%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (24% in Marion County)

360

residents 85 or older (3.4% of all residents)

0.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Pella)

35%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Marion County)

About 395 Pella residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21%; 24% in Marion County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Pella that list physical therapy include Good Samaritan Society-Home Care and Centerwell Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Pella compared with Marion County and Iowa

Census figure	Pella	Marion County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	24%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	3.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.4%	6.9%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	37%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	26%	31%
Households with no vehicle	3.6%	3.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,675	$56,557	—

Older residents in towns around Pella

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Knoxville, IA	11 mi	1,720	31%
Oskaloosa, IA	16 mi	2,347	24%
Newton, IA	21 mi	3,381	20%
Grinnell, IA	25 mi	2,034	25%
Albia, IA	27 mi	812	30%
Mitchellville, IA	30 mi	263	9.3%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Good Samaritan Society-Home Care	Indianola, IA	35 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 961-2596
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	45 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Elara Caring	Chariton, IA	33 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 774-2339
Elara Caring	Centerville, IA	47 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(641) 437-1117
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	39 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Pella Regional Home Health Agency	Pella, IA	0.2 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 628-6638

Emergency hospitals near Pella

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Pella Regional Health Center	Pella, IA	0.2 mi	4 of 5	(641) 628-3150
Knoxville Hospital & Clinics	Knoxville, IA	11 mi	2 of 5	(641) 842-2151

Straight-line miles from the center of Pella. 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 Pella

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 31% of the $4,806 monthly median income of Pella 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 Pella: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Pella?

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 31% of the $4,806 monthly median income of Pella 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 Pella

More senior care near Pella

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Pella

More for Pella 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 Pella, IA