Mobility Assistance in Wood River, IL

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Wood River, IL: the local picture

38%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (24% in Madison County)

127

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

5.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Alton)

46%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Madison County)

About 626 Wood River residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (38%; 24% in Madison 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 Wood River that list physical therapy include Aw Health Care and Evertrue Home Health; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Wood River compared with Madison County and Illinois

Census figure	Wood River	Madison County	Illinois
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	38%	24%	20%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.1%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	13%	7.6%	6.9%
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	35%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	30%
Households with no vehicle	7.4%	5.7%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,417	$57,096	—

Older residents in towns around Wood River

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Rosewood Heights, IL	1.7 mi	1,068	23%
East Alton, IL	2.2 mi	890	15%
Bethalto, IL	3.2 mi	2,119	18%
Alton, IL	4.9 mi	4,354	28%
Edwardsville, IL	6.9 mi	3,310	18%
Holiday Shores, IL	8.7 mi	498	27%

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

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aw Health Care	Saint Louis, MO	19 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(314) 726-5600
Evertrue Home Health	St. Louis, MO	22 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(314) 352-7889
Adoration Home Health	O Fallon, IL	22 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(618) 622-8854
Elara Caring V	Springfield, IL	66 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(217) 718-4889
Residential Home Health Of Southern Illinois	Glen Carbon, IL	9.1 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 642-6099
Anderson Home Health Services	Maryville, IL	12 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work	(618) 391-5731

Emergency hospitals near Wood River

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Alton Memorial Hospital	Alton, IL	5.3 mi	4 of 5	(314) 286-2227
Gateway Regional Medical Center	Granite City, IL	9.6 mi	2 of 5	(618) 798-3000

Straight-line miles from the center of Wood River. 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 Wood River

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $4,201 monthly median income of Wood River households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Wood River: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Wood River?

At the Illinois median aide wage of $18.30 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,586 a month in wages, which is 38% of the $4,201 monthly median income of Wood River households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Wood River

More senior care near Wood River

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Wood River

More for Wood River 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 Wood River, IL