Mobility Assistance in Petal, MS: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Petal, MS: the local picture

33%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (34% in Forrest County)

219

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

4.8 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Hattiesburg)

49%

of residents 65+ report a disability (47% in Forrest County)

About 542 Petal residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (33%; 34% in Forrest County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Petal that list physical therapy include Adoration Home Health and Mississippi Homecare; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Petal compared with Forrest County and Mississippi

Census figure	Petal	Forrest County	Mississippi
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	33%	34%	28%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	16%	12%	8.8%
Residents 65+ with a disability	49%	47%	41%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	28%	30%
Households with no vehicle	2.7%	7.1%	6.3%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$56,833	$49,275	—

Older residents in towns around Petal

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Hattiesburg, MS	5.6 mi	6,399	33%
West Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	709	33%
Ellisville, MS	17 mi	850	42%
Laurel, MS	24 mi	2,504	36%
Wiggins, MS	34 mi	598	44%
Columbia, MS	35 mi	1,375	35%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Adoration Home Health	Collins, MS	29 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 765-8316
Mississippi Homecare	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 268-8450
Forrest General Home Care	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 288-4344
Enhabit Home Health & Hospice	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 268-0408
Mississippi Homecare Of Richton	Richton, MS	19 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 788-2912
Deaconess Homecare- Region I	Laurel, MS	25 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(601) 649-2231

Emergency hospitals near Petal

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Forrest General Hospital	Hattiesburg, MS	4.8 mi	2 of 5	(601) 288-7000
Merit Health Wesley	Hattiesburg, MS	8.8 mi	2 of 5	(601) 268-8000

Straight-line miles from the center of Petal. 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 Petal

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Petal: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Petal?

At the Mississippi median aide wage of $11.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $994 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $4,736 monthly median income of Petal households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Mississippi 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 Petal

More senior care near Petal

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Petal

More for Petal 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 Petal, MS