Mobility Assistance in Southside, AL

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Southside, AL: the local picture

20%

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

171

residents 85 or older (1.8% of all residents)

9.0 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Gadsden)

31%

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

About 388 Southside residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20%; 25% in Etowah County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Southside that list physical therapy include Centerwell Home Health and Aveanna Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Southside compared with Etowah County and Alabama

Census figure	Southside	Etowah County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	25%	25%
Residents 85 or older	1.8%	1.7%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.5%	8.7%	7.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	37%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	14%	30%	29%
Households with no vehicle	1.4%	4.4%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,447	$44,181	—

Older residents in towns around Southside

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Rainbow City, AL	4.6 mi	1,947	22%
Glencoe, AL	6.3 mi	1,184	23%
Gadsden, AL	8.0 mi	6,020	29%
Attalla, AL	8.8 mi	1,350	27%
Hokes Bluff, AL	11 mi	1,091	26%
Alexandria, AL	12 mi	650	20%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Rainbow City, AL	5.0 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 442-1138
Aveanna Home Health	Gadsden, AL	12 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	—
Amedisys Home Health Of Anniston	Anniston, AL	17 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 820-2503
Compassus Home Health	Pell City, AL	28 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 313-2800
Prohealth Home Health, LLC	Huntsville, AL	62 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(256) 945-9100
Medical Centers Homecare	Albertville, AL	29 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(256) 878-5811

Emergency hospitals near Southside

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Gadsden Regional Medical Center	Gadsden, AL	9.0 mi	2 of 5	(256) 494-4000
Riverview Regional Medical Center	Gadsden, AL	12 mi	3 of 5	(256) 543-5200

Straight-line miles from the center of Southside. 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 Southside

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,287 monthly median income of Southside households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Southside: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Southside?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,287 monthly median income of Southside households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama 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 Southside

More senior care near Southside

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Southside

More for Southside 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 Southside, AL