CNA Home Care in Harlan, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Harlan, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

328

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 Harlan are Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan (0.1 mi), Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca (10 mi), Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn (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).

Harlan has about 286 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Harlan compared with Shelby County and Iowa

Census figure	Harlan	Shelby County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	5.8%	4.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	23%	30%
Residents 65 or older	24%	23%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	47%	31%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	24%	16%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	4.5%	3.2%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$32,500	$53,889	—

Older residents in towns around Harlan

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Atlantic, IA	24 mi	1,632	242
Denison, IA	25 mi	1,109	189
Missouri Valley, IA	30 mi	529	125
Carroll, IA	38 mi	2,456	466
Carter Lake, IA	39 mi	650	100
Council Bluffs, IA	39 mi	10,951	1,120

Nursing homes near Harlan

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Elm Crest Retirement Community	Harlan, IA	0.1 mi	2 of 5	50	(712) 755-5174
Avoca Specialty Care	Avoca, IA	10 mi	2 of 5	46	(712) 343-6398
Salem Lutheran Home	Elk Horn, IA	14 mi	1 of 5	64	(712) 764-4201
Dunlap Specialty Care	Dunlap, IA	19 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 643-2121
Azria Health Rose Vista	Woodbine, IA	21 mi	1 of 5	76	(712) 647-2010
Friendship Home Association	Audubon, IA	21 mi	3 of 5	46	(712) 563-2651

Home health agencies serving Harlan

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Angels Care Home Health Of Iowa	Council Bluffs, IA	37 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 352-3640
Aveanna Home Health	Council Bluffs, IA	41 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 325-8989
Carroll Area Nursing Services	Carroll, IA	38 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 792-1111
Myrtue Med Center Home Health	Harlan, IA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 755-4308

Straight-line miles from the center of Harlan. 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 Harlan

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 55% of the $2,708 monthly median income of Harlan 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 Harlan: common questions

What nursing homes are near Harlan?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Elm Crest Retirement Community in Harlan (0.1 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Avoca Specialty Care in Avoca (10 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn (14 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Harlan?

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 55% of the $2,708 monthly median income of Harlan 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 Harlan

More senior care near Harlan

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Harlan

More for Harlan 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 Harlan, IA