CNA Home Care in Oskaloosa, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Oskaloosa, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

429

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 Oskaloosa are Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa (1.1 mi), Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa (1.4 mi), Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa (1.6 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).

Oskaloosa has about 306 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Oskaloosa compared with Mahaska County and Iowa

Census figure	Oskaloosa	Mahaska County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	34%	30%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	26%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.0%	6.5%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	4.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,023	$50,470	—

Older residents in towns around Oskaloosa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Pella, IA	16 mi	2,017	360
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	204
Ottumwa, IA	22 mi	4,107	773
Knoxville, IA	24 mi	1,720	484
Grinnell, IA	31 mi	2,034	290
Newton, IA	35 mi	3,381	699

Nursing homes near Oskaloosa

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Crystal Heights Care Center	Oskaloosa, IA	1.1 mi	3 of 5	72	(641) 673-7032
Oskaloosa Care Center	Oskaloosa, IA	1.4 mi	1 of 5	83	(641) 676-3414
Northern Mahaska Specialty Care	Oskaloosa, IA	1.6 mi	3 of 5	79	(641) 673-3000
The Cottages	Pella, IA	17 mi	1 of 5	100	(641) 628-1244
Montezuma Specialty Care	Montezuma, IA	21 mi	3 of 5	41	(641) 219-4330
Oakwood Specialty Care	Albia, IA	21 mi	4 of 5	54	(641) 932-7105

Home health agencies serving Oskaloosa

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Chariton, IA	39 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 774-2339
Elara Caring	Centerville, IA	41 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(641) 437-1117
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Ottumwa, IA	22 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 226-5050
Pella Regional Home Health Agency	Pella, IA	16 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 628-6638

Straight-line miles from the center of Oskaloosa. 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 Oskaloosa

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 36% of the $4,169 monthly median income of Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa: common questions

What nursing homes are near Oskaloosa?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa (1.1 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Oskaloosa Care Center in Oskaloosa (1.4 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa (1.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Oskaloosa?

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 36% of the $4,169 monthly median income of Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa

More senior care near Oskaloosa

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Oskaloosa

More for Oskaloosa 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 Oskaloosa, IA