CNA Home Care in Clear Lake, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Clear Lake, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

489

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$17.34

median hourly wage of home care aides in Iowa (BLS, May 2025)

$7.25

Iowa minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Clear Lake are Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake (1.1 mi), I O O F Home And Community Therapy Center in Mason City (7.9 mi), Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City (9.1 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Iowa earn a median $17.34 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Clear Lake has about 284 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Clear Lake compared with Cerro Gordo County and Iowa

Census figure	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.7%	3.1%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	27%	24%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.0%	7.3%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	6.4%	5.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,750	$50,066	—

Older residents in towns around Clear Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Mason City, IA	8.8 mi	6,215	830
Garner, IA	12 mi	916	186
Forest City, IA	16 mi	756	102
Belmond, IA	23 mi	727	122
Hampton, IA	28 mi	981	156
Osage, IA	30 mi	897	108

Nursing homes near Clear Lake

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Oakwood Care Center	Clear Lake, IA	1.1 mi	3 of 5	76	(641) 357-5244
I O O F Home And Community Therapy Center	Mason City, IA	7.9 mi	4 of 5	82	(641) 423-0428
Good Shepherd Health Center	Mason City, IA	9.1 mi	1 of 5	170	(641) 424-1740
Heritage Care And Rehabilitation Center	Mason City, IA	9.7 mi	2 of 5	71	(641) 423-2121
Concord Care Center	Garner, IA	12 mi	5 of 5	46	(641) 923-2677
Manly Specialty Care	Manly, IA	14 mi	3 of 5	44	(641) 454-2223

Home health agencies serving Clear Lake

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	108 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Cerro Gordo County Department Of Public Health	Mason City, IA	9.0 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 421-9300

Straight-line miles from the center of Clear Lake. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs costs in Clear Lake

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Clear Lake: common questions

What nursing homes are near Clear Lake?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake (1.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); I O O F Home And Community Therapy Center in Mason City (7.9 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City (9.1 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Clear Lake?

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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).

Can a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Clear Lake

More senior care near Clear Lake

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Clear Lake

More for Clear Lake 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Clear Lake, IA