Mobility Assistance in St. Helen, MI

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in St. Helen, MI: the local picture

23%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Roscommon County)

81

residents 85 or older (2.8% of all residents)

11 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (West Branch)

42%

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

About 207 St. Helen residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23%; 21% in Roscommon County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving St. Helen that list physical therapy include Heartland Home Health (West Branch) and First State Home Health Care, Inc; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

St. Helen compared with Roscommon County and Michigan

Census figure	St. Helen	Roscommon County	Michigan
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	21%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	3.1%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	5.6%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	42%	36%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	2.3%	6.8%	7.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$49,444	$50,715	—

Older residents in towns around St. Helen

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Houghton Lake, MI	17 mi	1,983	30%
Skidway Lake, MI	21 mi	584	40%
Gladwin, MI	26 mi	781	35%
Clare, MI	41 mi	769	34%
Kalkaska, MI	46 mi	544	42%
East Tawas, MI	46 mi	971	33%

Home health agencies serving St. Helen (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Heartland Home Health (West Branch)	West Branch, MI	11 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 345-1797
First State Home Health Care, Inc	Saginaw, MI	65 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 771-2100
Caring Choice Network	Southfield, MI	142 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy	(248) 356-7525
Evergreen Home Health	Gaylord, MI	47 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(989) 448-2778
Mclaren Home Care	Mount Pleasant, MI	55 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 772-6785
Munson Home Care	Traverse City, MI	66 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 252-2065

Emergency hospitals near St. Helen

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mymichigan Medical Center West Branch	West Branch, MI	11 mi	5 of 5	(989) 345-3660
Mymichigan Medical Center Gladwin	Gladwin, MI	23 mi	not rated	(989) 426-9286

Straight-line miles from the center of St. Helen. 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 St. Helen

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 35% of the $4,120 monthly median income of St. Helen 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 St. Helen: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in St. Helen?

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 35% of the $4,120 monthly median income of St. Helen 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 St. Helen

More senior care near St. Helen

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in St. Helen

More for St. Helen 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 St. Helen, MI