Mobility Assistance in St. James, MO

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in St. James, MO: the local picture

22%

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

131

residents 85 or older (3.3% of all residents)

8.8 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Rolla)

53%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Phelps County)

About 164 St. James residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (22%; 24% in Phelps County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving St. James that list physical therapy include Centerwell Home Health and Elara Caring; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

St. James compared with Phelps County and Missouri

Census figure	St. James	Phelps County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	22%	24%	21%
Residents 85 or older	3.3%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.6%	7.7%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	53%	38%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	9.0%	6.1%	6.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,314	$47,348	—

Older residents in towns around St. James

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Rolla, MO	8.9 mi	2,865	26%
Cuba, MO	12 mi	540	40%
Owensville, MO	25 mi	552	26%
Salem, MO	25 mi	1,025	50%
Sullivan, MO	28 mi	1,280	27%
St. Robert, MO	32 mi	700	17%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Rolla, MO	8.8 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(573) 341-3456
Elara Caring	Jefferson City, MO	52 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 690-1753
Central Missouri Home Health	Jefferson City, MO	52 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(573) 681-3777
Bjc Home Care Services	Saint Louis, MO	77 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(314) 362-0200
Phelps Health Home Health And Hospice	Rolla, MO	8.8 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(573) 364-2425

Emergency hospitals near St. James

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Phelps County Regional Medical Center	Rolla, MO	8.8 mi	2 of 5	(573) 458-8899
Salem Memorial District Hospital	Salem, MO	27 mi	4 of 5	(573) 729-6626

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

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $2,610 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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. James: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in St. James?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 53% of the $2,610 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri's minimum wage is $15.00 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 St. James

More senior care near St. James

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in St. James

More for St. James 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. James, MO