Mobility Assistance in Traverse City, MI

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Traverse City, MI: the local picture

13%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (15% in Grand Traverse County)

411

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

5.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Traverse City)

20%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Grand Traverse County)

About 481 Traverse City residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (13%; 15% in Grand Traverse County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Traverse City that list physical therapy include Ohioans Home Healthcare and Munson Home Care; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Traverse City compared with Grand Traverse County and Michigan

Census figure	Traverse City	Grand Traverse County	Michigan
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	13%	15%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.6%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.9%	5.7%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	20%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	29%	29%
Households with no vehicle	8.6%	4.9%	7.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$66,380	$61,808	—

Older residents in towns around Traverse City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Kalkaska, MI	21 mi	544	42%
Cadillac, MI	36 mi	2,207	27%
Boyne City, MI	43 mi	943	19%
Gaylord, MI	49 mi	907	23%
Manistee, MI	50 mi	1,574	14%
Petoskey, MI	51 mi	1,361	15%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ohioans Home Healthcare	Monroe, MI	224 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(419) 843-4422
Munson Home Care	Traverse City, MI	1.1 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 252-2065
Great Lakes Home Healthcare Specialists LLC	Traverse City, MI	1.1 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(231) 421-5036
Residential Home Health And Hospice	Saginaw, MI	121 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(810) 245-3300
Residential Home Health And Hospice	Lapeer, MI	163 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(810) 245-3300
Residential Home Health	Troy, MI	192 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(866) 902-4000

Emergency hospitals near Traverse City

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Munson Medical Center	Traverse City, MI	5.5 mi	4 of 5	(231) 935-5000
Kalkaska Memorial Health Center	Kalkaska, MI	24 mi	not rated	(231) 258-7500

Straight-line miles from the center of Traverse City. 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 Traverse City

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 26% of the $5,532 monthly median income of Traverse City 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 Traverse City: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Traverse City?

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 26% of the $5,532 monthly median income of Traverse City 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 Traverse City

More senior care near Traverse City

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Traverse City

More for Traverse City 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 Traverse City, MI