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

Local figures

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

25%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25% in Wapello County)

9.0%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (7.6% in Wapello County)

4,107

residents 65 or older (16% of Ottumwa)

5

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

991 Ottumwa residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25%; 25% in Wapello County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

350 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (9.0%).

Medicare lists 5 home health agencies serving Ottumwa ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Ottumwa compared with Wapello County and Iowa

Census figure	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	25%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	9.0%	7.6%	5.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.5%	5.6%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%	31%
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+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Bloomfield, IA	19 mi	514	26%
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	30%
Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	2,347	24%
Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2,519	7.7%
Centerville, IA	31 mi	1,205	22%
Pella, IA	37 mi	2,017	21%

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
Sunny Brook Home Care	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(641) 472-4808

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

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 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 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 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 Ottumwa: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care 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).

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 Ottumwa

More senior care near Ottumwa

Parkinson’s Care 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.

In-Home Parkinson’s Care in Ottumwa, IA