In-Home Personal Care in Cedar Falls, IA

Local figures

Personal Care in Cedar Falls, IA: the local picture

5.3%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.8% in Black Hawk County)

15%

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

1,010

residents 85 or older (2.5% of all residents)

7

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

About 322 Cedar Falls residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.3%; 4.8% in Black Hawk County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

943 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (15%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

1,010 of the 6,557 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Cedar Falls compared with Black Hawk County and Iowa

Census figure	Cedar Falls	Black Hawk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.3%	4.8%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	15%	17%	17%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.0%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	3.0%	7.6%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$71,904	$57,493	—

Older residents in towns around Cedar Falls

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Waterloo, IA	5.5 mi	11,387	5.3%
Hudson, IA	5.8 mi	467	8.1%
Evansdale, IA	10 mi	998	1.8%
Waverly, IA	14 mi	1,954	1.4%
Grundy Center, IA	20 mi	629	1.7%
Jesup, IA	20 mi	368	6.0%

Home health agencies with aides serving Cedar Falls

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Hiawatha, IA	52 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	88 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	6.8 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 272-5050
Unitypoint At Home	Waterloo, IA	6.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 235-3702
Comfort Care Medicare Inc	Cedar Rapids, IA	53 mi	not rated	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(319) 294-3527
Universal Pediatrics	Dubuque, IA	87 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(563) 557-5762

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

What it covers

What a personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal care costs in Cedar Falls

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 $5,992 monthly median income of Cedar Falls 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 personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

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

Questions

Personal Care in Cedar Falls: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Cedar Falls?

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 $5,992 monthly median income of Cedar Falls 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 is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Cedar Falls

More senior care near Cedar Falls

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Cedar Falls

More for Cedar Falls 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.