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

Local figures

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

20%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18% in Clay County)

6.9%

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

2,495

residents 65 or older (22% of Spencer)

4

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

470 Spencer residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20%; 18% in Clay County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

161 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (6.9%).

Medicare lists 4 home health agencies serving Spencer ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Spencer compared with Clay County and Iowa

Census figure	Spencer	Clay County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	6.9%	5.8%	5.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.3%	3.9%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	34%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.5%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,088	$50,774	—

Older residents in towns around Spencer

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Milford, IA	13 mi	802	14%
Spirit Lake, IA	19 mi	1,217	14%
Estherville, IA	24 mi	1,332	30%
Emmetsburg, IA	24 mi	934	24%
Jackson, MN	34 mi	714	18%
Cherokee, IA	34 mi	1,189	22%

Home health agencies serving Spencer

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Avera @ Home	Estherville, IA	24 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 362-6169
Avera At Home Of Spencer Hospital	Spencer, IA	0.4 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 264-6380
Lakes Regional Healthcare Home Care	Spirit Lake, IA	19 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(712) 336-8709
Sanford Home Health And Hospice Sheldon	Sheldon, IA	35 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(712) 324-6420

Nursing homes near Spencer

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Spencer Post Acute Rehabilitation Center	Spencer, IA	0.2 mi	1 of 5	82	(712) 262-2344
St Luke Lutheran Nursing Home	Spencer, IA	2.0 mi	2 of 5	79	(712) 262-5931
Accura Healthcare Of Milford	Milford, IA	13 mi	4 of 5	46	(712) 338-4742

Straight-line miles from the center of Spencer. 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 Spencer

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 38% of the $3,924 monthly median income of Spencer 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 Spencer: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Spencer?

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 38% of the $3,924 monthly median income of Spencer 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 Spencer

More senior care near Spencer

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Spencer

More for Spencer 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 Spencer, IA