CNA Home Care in Garner, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Garner, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

302

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 Garner are Concord Care Center in Garner (0.7 mi), Westview Care Center in Britt (11 mi), Good Samaritan - Forest City in Forest City (11 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).

Garner has about 186 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Garner compared with Hancock County and Iowa

Census figure	Garner	Hancock County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	6.1%	4.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	30%	24%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	29%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	14%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	9.3%	5.1%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,735	$50,234	—

Older residents in towns around Garner

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Forest City, IA	11 mi	756	102
Clear Lake, IA	12 mi	2,089	284
Belmond, IA	18 mi	727	122
Mason City, IA	21 mi	6,215	830
Clarion, IA	26 mi	539	146
Algona, IA	32 mi	1,383	342

Nursing homes near Garner

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Concord Care Center	Garner, IA	0.7 mi	5 of 5	46	(641) 923-2677
Westview Care Center	Britt, IA	11 mi	5 of 5	67	(641) 843-3835
Good Samaritan - Forest City	Forest City, IA	11 mi	4 of 5	43	(641) 585-2232
Oakwood Care Center	Clear Lake, IA	11 mi	3 of 5	76	(641) 357-5244
Kanawha Community Home, Inc.	Kanawha, IA	15 mi	5 of 5	26	(641) 762-3302
Rehabilitation Center Of Belmond	Belmond, IA	17 mi	5 of 5	44	(641) 444-3915

Home health agencies serving Garner

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Hancock County Health System Community Health	Garner, IA	1.1 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 923-3676
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Webster City, IA	45 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 576-2273

Straight-line miles from the center of Garner. 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 Garner

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 39% of the $3,895 monthly median income of Garner 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 Garner: common questions

What nursing homes are near Garner?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Concord Care Center in Garner (0.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Westview Care Center in Britt (11 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Good Samaritan - Forest City in Forest City (11 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Garner?

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 39% of the $3,895 monthly median income of Garner 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 Garner

More senior care near Garner

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Garner

More for Garner 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 Garner, IA