Parkinson's Care in Ames, IA: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Ames, IA: the local picture

14%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14% in Story County)

3.9%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (3.8% in Story County)

7,494

residents 65 or older (11% of Ames)

16

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Ames ZIP codes in their service area

996 Ames residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14%; 14% in Story County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

285 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (3.9%).

Medicare lists 16 home health agencies serving Ames ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Ames compared with Story County and Iowa

Census figure	Ames	Story County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	14%	14%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	3.9%	3.8%	5.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.9%	4.3%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	11%	13%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	30%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,689	$69,964	—

Older residents in towns around Ames

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Nevada, IA	7.8 mi	1,242	22%
Huxley, IA	9.1 mi	525	20%
Story City, IA	11 mi	722	13%
Boone, IA	13 mi	2,272	22%
Madrid, IA	15 mi	566	29%
Polk City, IA	18 mi	874	11%

Home health agencies serving Ames

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	28 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	33 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	30 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
St Anthony Regional Hospital And Nursing Home	Carroll, IA	64 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 794-5279
Aspire Home Healthcare, LLC	Morton Grove, IL	299 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(312) 788-8014
Mary Greeley Home Health Services	Ames, IA	1.3 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 239-6730

Nursing homes near Ames

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Accura Healthcare Of Ames, LLC	Ames, IA	2.0 mi	3 of 5	75	(515) 232-3426
Green Hills Health Care Center	Ames, IA	2.0 mi	5 of 5	56	(515) 296-5000
Northridge Village	Ames, IA	2.8 mi	5 of 5	38	(515) 232-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of Ames. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s can help with

Medication reminders on the schedule the doctor set
Help walking, turning and getting up safely
Dressing and buttons when hands are stiff or shaky
Meals prepared the way the care team advises

Cost

What Parkinson’s care costs in Ames

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S., and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Its Helpline, 1-800-473-4636, answers questions from people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone with Parkinson’s? What helped most? How do you keep medication reminders exactly on time? How do you help someone who freezes while walking? More in our parkinson’s care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Parkinson’s Care in Ames: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Ames?

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 25% of the $5,974 monthly median income of Ames 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).

What should a Parkinson’s caregiver know?

Look for someone who has helped people with stiffness, slowness or tremor, keeps a strict routine, and knows safe transfers. Ask for a reference from a family of someone with Parkinson’s.

More near Ames

More senior care near Ames

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Ames

More for Ames 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.

In-Home Parkinson’s Care in Ames, IA