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

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Fort Dodge, IA: the local picture

19%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17% in Webster County)

7.1%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (5.8% in Webster County)

4,713

residents 65 or older (19% of Fort Dodge)

6

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

795 Fort Dodge residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19%; 17% in Webster County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

299 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (7.1%).

Medicare lists 6 home health agencies serving Fort Dodge ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Fort Dodge compared with Webster County and Iowa

Census figure	Fort Dodge	Webster County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	19%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	7.1%	5.8%	5.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.9%	5.1%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	40%	31%
Households with no vehicle	8.6%	6.7%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$43,944	$44,701	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Dodge

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Humboldt, IA	15 mi	1,089	19%
Eagle Grove, IA	18 mi	653	13%
Webster City, IA	19 mi	1,463	27%
Clarion, IA	27 mi	539	19%
Boone, IA	35 mi	2,272	22%
Jefferson, IA	36 mi	1,307	26%

Home health agencies serving Fort Dodge

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Unitypoint At Home	Fort Dodge, IA	0.3 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 574-6416
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	70 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Freedom In Home Services, LLC	Omaha, NE	128 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(402) 934-2224
Dignity Care Group, Inc.	Omaha, NE	128 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(402) 401-6689
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Webster City, IA	18 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 576-2273
Webster County Health Department	Fort Dodge, IA	0.3 mi	not rated	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 573-4107

Nursing homes near Fort Dodge

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Marian Home	Fort Dodge, IA	0.5 mi	5 of 5	90	(515) 576-1138
Fort Dodge Health And Rehabilitation	Fort Dodge, IA	1.1 mi	1 of 5	65	(515) 576-7226
Friendship Haven, Inc	Fort Dodge, IA	3.5 mi	4 of 5	155	(515) 573-2121

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Dodge. 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 Fort Dodge

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 41% of the $3,662 monthly median income of Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Fort Dodge?

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 41% of the $3,662 monthly median income of Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge

More senior care near Fort Dodge

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Dodge

More for Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge, IA