Mobility Assistance in Washington, IA

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Washington, IA: the local picture

23%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20% in Washington County)

262

residents 85 or older (3.6% of all residents)

0.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Washington)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Washington County)

About 355 Washington residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23%; 20% in Washington County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

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

Home health agencies serving Washington that list physical therapy include Elara Caring and University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Washington compared with Washington County and Iowa

Census figure	Washington	Washington County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	20%	17%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	11%	6.5%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	28%	31%
Households with no vehicle	6.2%	4.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,645	$56,090	—

Older residents in towns around Washington

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Kalona, IA	13 mi	684	16%
Mount Pleasant, IA	24 mi	1,634	25%
Fairfield, IA	25 mi	2,519	7.7%
Iowa City, IA	26 mi	9,354	15%
Coralville, IA	28 mi	3,097	16%
Tiffin, IA	28 mi	586	9.6%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Centerville, IA	73 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(641) 437-1117
University Of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown Home Health	Coralville, IA	28 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 358-2740
Johnson County Visiting Nurse Association	Iowa City, IA	25 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 337-9686
Optimae Home Health Services	Fairfield, IA	25 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 472-4464
Washington Co. Public Health	Washington, IA	0.4 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(319) 653-7758
Sunny Brook Home Care	Fairfield, IA	25 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(641) 472-4808

Emergency hospitals near Washington

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Washington County Hospital And Clinics	Washington, IA	0.4 mi	not rated	(319) 653-5481
Henry County Health Center	Mount Pleasant, IA	24 mi	not rated	(319) 385-3141

Straight-line miles from the center of Washington. 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 Washington

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 43% of the $3,470 monthly median income of Washington 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 Washington: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Washington?

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 43% of the $3,470 monthly median income of Washington 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 Washington

More senior care near Washington

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Washington

More for Washington 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 Washington, IA