Mobility Assistance in Starke, FL: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Starke, FL: the local picture

18%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18% in Bradford County)

127

residents 85 or older (2.2% of all residents)

17 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Lake Butler)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Bradford County)

About 93 Starke residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18%; 18% in Bradford County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

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

Starke compared with Bradford County and Florida

Census figure	Starke	Bradford County	Florida
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	18%	18%	20%
Residents 85 or older	2.2%	1.8%	2.6%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	5.3%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	67%	33%	25%
Households with no vehicle	8.7%	6.2%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$22,264	$39,930	—

Older residents in towns around Starke

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Middleburg, FL	15 mi	1,893	18%
Asbury Lake, FL	21 mi	1,834	21%
Oakleaf Plantation, FL	23 mi	3,028	19%
Macclenny, FL	23 mi	1,260	52%
Gainesville, FL	23 mi	17,357	24%
Lakeside, FL	24 mi	5,934	26%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Gainesville, FL	25 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(352) 376-3221
Centerwell Home Health	Orange Park, FL	27 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(904) 731-3515
Aveanna Home Health	Gainesville, FL	25 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 331-3280
Concierge Home Care	Orange Park, FL	27 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—
Alpine Care Home Health	Jacksonville, FL	39 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(904) 241-1656
Florida Homecare Specialists Inc	Lady Lake, FL	71 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 753-2206

Emergency hospitals near Starke

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Lake Butler Hospital	Lake Butler, FL	17 mi	not rated	(386) 496-2323
Ascension St Vincent's Clay County	Middleburg, FL	18 mi	3 of 5	(904) 602-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of Starke. 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 Starke

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 How to get paid to take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Starke: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Starke?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 76% of the $1,855 monthly median income of Starke households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Starke

More senior care near Starke

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Starke

More for Starke 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 Starke, FL