CNA Home Care in Forest City, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Forest City, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

335

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 Forest City are Good Samaritan - Forest City in Forest City (0.2 mi), Concord Care Center in Garner (12 mi), Westview Care Center in Britt (14 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).

Forest City has about 102 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Forest City compared with Winnebago County and Iowa

Census figure	Forest City	Winnebago County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.4%	3.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	8.9%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	10%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,170	$43,750	—

Older residents in towns around Forest City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Garner, IA	11 mi	916	186
Clear Lake, IA	16 mi	2,089	284
Mason City, IA	23 mi	6,215	830
Belmond, IA	28 mi	727	122
Albert Lea, MN	31 mi	4,619	967
Algona, IA	32 mi	1,383	342

Nursing homes near Forest City

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Good Samaritan - Forest City	Forest City, IA	0.2 mi	4 of 5	43	(641) 585-2232
Concord Care Center	Garner, IA	12 mi	5 of 5	46	(641) 923-2677
Westview Care Center	Britt, IA	14 mi	5 of 5	67	(641) 843-3835
Oakwood Care Center	Clear Lake, IA	15 mi	3 of 5	76	(641) 357-5244
Lake Mills Care Center	Lake Mills, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	61	(641) 592-4900
Timely Mission Nursing Home	Buffalo Center, IA	18 mi	5 of 5	42	(641) 562-2494

Home health agencies serving Forest City

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Winnebago County Phns	Forest City, IA	0.8 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 585-4763
Hancock County Health System Community Health	Garner, IA	10 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 923-3676

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

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 51% of the $2,931 monthly median income of Forest City 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 Forest City: common questions

What nursing homes are near Forest City?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Good Samaritan - Forest City in Forest City (0.2 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Concord Care Center in Garner (12 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Westview Care Center in Britt (14 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Forest City?

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 51% of the $2,931 monthly median income of Forest City 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 Forest City

More senior care near Forest City

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Forest City

More for Forest 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Forest City, IA