Mobility Assistance in Shields, MI: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Shields, MI: the local picture

29%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23% in Saginaw County)

183

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

3.6 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Saginaw)

40%

of residents 65+ report a disability (36% in Saginaw County)

About 595 Shields residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (29%; 23% in Saginaw County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Shields that list physical therapy include Americans Home Health Care and Absolute Home Health Care; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Shields compared with Saginaw County and Michigan

Census figure	Shields	Saginaw County	Michigan
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	29%	23%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	6.8%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	36%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	31%	29%
Households with no vehicle	7.5%	7.0%	7.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,979	$49,883	—

Older residents in towns around Shields

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Saginaw, MI	6.2 mi	6,488	26%
Freeland, MI	6.8 mi	761	11%
Buena Vista, MI	8.7 mi	1,261	44%
Bridgeport, MI	10 mi	1,453	16%
Bay City, MI	15 mi	5,720	29%
Midland, MI	16 mi	8,729	19%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Americans Home Health Care	Saginaw, MI	7.1 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 791-7951
Absolute Home Health Care	Grand Blanc, MI	41 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(810) 694-1042
Mclaren Home Health	Bay City, MI	15 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(800) 862-3132
Elara Caring	Bingham Farms, MI	75 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(248) 530-3720
First State Home Health Care, Inc	Saginaw, MI	7.1 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 771-2100
Seasons Change Home Health Care	Pigeon, MI	48 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 856-2800

Emergency hospitals near Shields

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Healthsource Saginaw	Saginaw, MI	3.6 mi	not rated	(989) 790-7888
Covenant Medical Center	Saginaw, MI	5.0 mi	2 of 5	(989) 583-6000

Straight-line miles from the center of Shields. 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 Shields

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,998 monthly median income of Shields households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Shields: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Shields?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $5,998 monthly median income of Shields households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Shields

More senior care near Shields

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Shields

More for Shields 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 Shields, MI