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

Local figures

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

21%

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

6.4%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (5.2% in Black Hawk County)

11,387

residents 65 or older (17% of Waterloo)

9

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

2,276 Waterloo residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21%; 17% in Black Hawk County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

705 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (6.4%).

Medicare lists 9 home health agencies serving Waterloo ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Waterloo compared with Black Hawk County and Iowa

Census figure	Waterloo	Black Hawk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	6.4%	5.2%	5.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.3%	4.8%	5.1%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	32%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.8%	6.3%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,415	$57,493	—

Older residents in towns around Waterloo

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Evansdale, IA	4.6 mi	998	9.2%
Cedar Falls, IA	5.5 mi	6,557	15%
Hudson, IA	6.4 mi	467	14%
Jesup, IA	15 mi	368	14%
Waverly, IA	17 mi	1,954	18%
Independence, IA	23 mi	1,287	20%

Home health agencies serving Waterloo

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Hiawatha, IA	46 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 393-4742
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	90 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Mercyone Waterloo Home Health Care	Waterloo, IA	1.5 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 272-5050
Unitypoint At Home	Cedar Rapids, IA	48 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—
Unity Point At Home	Moline, IL	118 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(309) 779-7600
Unitypoint At Home	Waterloo, IA	2.0 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 235-3702

Nursing homes near Waterloo

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Harmony Waterloo	Waterloo, IA	1.6 mi	1 of 5	88	(319) 234-7777
Friendship Village Retirement	Waterloo, IA	2.0 mi	5 of 5	72	(319) 291-8100
Ravenwood Specialty Care	Waterloo, IA	2.2 mi	1 of 5	176	(319) 232-6808

Straight-line miles from the center of Waterloo. 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 Waterloo

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 37% of the $4,035 monthly median income of Waterloo 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 Waterloo: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Waterloo?

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 37% of the $4,035 monthly median income of Waterloo 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 Waterloo

More senior care near Waterloo

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Waterloo

More for Waterloo 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 Waterloo, IA