CNA Home Care in Ottumwa, IA: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Ottumwa, IA: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

463

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 Ottumwa are Accura Healthcare Of Ottumwa in Ottumwa (0.4 mi), Ridgewood Specialty Care in Ottumwa (2.0 mi), Good Samaritan - Ottumwa in Ottumwa (2.2 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).

Ottumwa has about 773 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Ottumwa compared with Wapello County and Iowa

Census figure	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.9%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	40%	30%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.2%	10%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	6.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,778	$51,144	—

Older residents in towns around Ottumwa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Bloomfield, IA	19 mi	514	140
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	204
Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	2,347	306
Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2,519	265
Centerville, IA	31 mi	1,205	225
Pella, IA	37 mi	2,017	360

Nursing homes near Ottumwa

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Ottumwa	Ottumwa, IA	0.4 mi	4 of 5	60	(641) 683-3372
Ridgewood Specialty Care	Ottumwa, IA	2.0 mi	3 of 5	60	(641) 683-3111
Good Samaritan - Ottumwa	Ottumwa, IA	2.2 mi	2 of 5	126	(641) 682-8041
Bloomfield Care Center	Bloomfield, IA	18 mi	3 of 5	91	(641) 664-2699
Oakwood Specialty Care	Albia, IA	20 mi	4 of 5	54	(641) 932-7105
Crystal Heights Care Center	Oskaloosa, IA	23 mi	3 of 5	72	(641) 673-7032

Home health agencies serving Ottumwa

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Centerville, IA	31 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(641) 437-1117
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 226-5050
Optimae Home Health Services	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 472-4464
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	70 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 558-9591

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottumwa. 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 Ottumwa

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 $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa: common questions

What nursing homes are near Ottumwa?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Accura Healthcare Of Ottumwa in Ottumwa (0.4 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Ridgewood Specialty Care in Ottumwa (2.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Good Samaritan - Ottumwa in Ottumwa (2.2 mi, 2 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Ottumwa?

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 $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa

More senior care near Ottumwa

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Ottumwa

More for Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa, IA