CNA Home Care in Poteau, OK: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Poteau, OK: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

654

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$13.32

median hourly wage of home care aides in Oklahoma (BLS, May 2025)

$7.25

Oklahoma minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Poteau are The Oaks Healthcare Center in Poteau (1.5 mi), Spiro Nursing Home, Inc. in Spiro (12 mi), Heavener Nursing & Rehab in Heavener (12 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Oklahoma earn a median $13.32 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Oklahoma's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Poteau has about 168 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Poteau compared with Le Flore County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Poteau	Le Flore County	Oklahoma
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.4%	1.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	45%	41%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.7%	13%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.3%	6.3%	5.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,552	$41,884	—

Older residents in towns around Poteau

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Heavener, OK	12 mi	426	53
Pocola, OK	15 mi	924	81
Greenwood, AR	23 mi	1,906	225
Muldrow, OK	23 mi	509	56
Fort Smith, AR	24 mi	14,381	1,843
Roland, OK	25 mi	411	60

Nursing homes near Poteau

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
The Oaks Healthcare Center	Poteau, OK	1.5 mi	1 of 5	158	(918) 647-8236
Spiro Nursing Home, Inc.	Spiro, OK	12 mi	4 of 5	95	(918) 962-2308
Heavener Nursing & Rehab	Heavener, OK	12 mi	1 of 5	84	(918) 653-2464
Pocola Health And Rehab	Pocola, OK	16 mi	1 of 5	90	(918) 436-2228
Fianna Hills Nursing And Rehabilitation Center	Fort Smith, AR	20 mi	3 of 5	102	(479) 648-9600
Brooken Hill Health And Rehab, LLC	Fort Smith, AR	20 mi	3 of 5	125	(479) 409-2450

Home health agencies serving Poteau

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Angels Care Home Health Vii	Poteau, OK	0.4 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(918) 647-5100
Traditions Health Of Idabel	Idabel, OK	82 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(580) 286-6541
Mays Housecall Home Health Of Tulsa, LLC	Tulsa, OK	99 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(918) 437-0620
Welcome Back Home Care, Inc.	Pocola, OK	14 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(918) 436-6179

Straight-line miles from the center of Poteau. 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 Poteau

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,546 monthly median income of Poteau households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Poteau: common questions

What nursing homes are near Poteau?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are The Oaks Healthcare Center in Poteau (1.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Spiro Nursing Home, Inc. in Spiro (12 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Heavener Nursing & Rehab in Heavener (12 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Poteau?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,546 monthly median income of Poteau households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Poteau

More senior care near Poteau

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Poteau

More for Poteau 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 Poteau, OK