Mobility Assistance in Tea, SD: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Tea, SD: the local picture

22%

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

11

residents 85 or older (0.2% of all residents)

6.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Sioux Falls)

37%

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

About 82 Tea residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (22%; 18% in Lincoln County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Tea that list physical therapy include Avera @ Home and Sanford Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Tea compared with Lincoln County and South Dakota

Census figure	Tea	Lincoln County	South Dakota
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	22%	18%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.2%	1.3%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	4.1%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	11%	22%	30%
Households with no vehicle	0.0%	2.1%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$73,681	$71,722	—

Older residents in towns around Tea

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Harrisburg, SD	5.8 mi	312	51%
Sioux Falls, SD	7.5 mi	28,329	18%
Hartford, SD	13 mi	614	20%
Brandon, SD	15 mi	1,627	18%
Canton, SD	16 mi	786	11%
Dell Rapids, SD	26 mi	703	19%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Avera @ Home	Sioux Falls, SD	6.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(605) 322-4663
Sanford Home Health	Sioux Falls, SD	7.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(605) 328-5900
Aveanna Home Health	Sioux Falls, SD	8.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(605) 335-3373

Emergency hospitals near Tea

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Avera Heart Hospital Of South Dakota	Sioux Falls, SD	6.2 mi	5 of 5	(605) 977-7000
Avera Mckennan Hospital & University Health Center	Sioux Falls, SD	15 mi	4 of 5	(605) 322-8000

Straight-line miles from the center of Tea. 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 Tea

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,140 monthly median income of Tea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Tea: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Tea?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,140 monthly median income of Tea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 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 Tea

More senior care near Tea

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Tea

More for Tea families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (small-place figures carry wide margins of error); 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 Tea, SD