Mobility Assistance in Tama, IA: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Tama, IA: the local picture

11%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (13% in Tama County)

76

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

18 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Grinnell)

19%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Tama County)

About 50 Tama residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (11%; 13% in Tama County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Tama that list physical therapy include Unitypoint At Home and Tama County Public Health & Ho; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Tama compared with Tama County and Iowa

Census figure	Tama	Tama County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	11%	13%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	3.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.2%	3.5%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	19%	24%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	27%	31%
Households with no vehicle	4.3%	2.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,574	$51,037	—

Older residents in towns around Tama

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Grinnell, IA	18 mi	2,034	25%
Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	4,563	20%
Marengo, IA	29 mi	577	20%
Grundy Center, IA	29 mi	629	13%
Newton, IA	30 mi	3,381	20%
Vinton, IA	31 mi	1,156	20%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Unitypoint At Home	Urbandale, IA	64 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 557-3100
Tama County Public Health & Ho	Toledo, IA	3.0 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 484-4788
Iowa Home Care, L L C	West Des Moines, IA	69 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 222-9995

Emergency hospitals near Tama

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Grinnell Regional Medical Center	Grinnell, IA	18 mi	2 of 5	(641) 236-7511
Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown	Marshalltown, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	(641) 754-5151

Straight-line miles from the center of Tama. 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 Tama

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 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 Tama: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Tama?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 31% of the $4,798 monthly median income of Tama households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Tama

More senior care near Tama

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Tama

More for Tama 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 Tama, IA