Stroke Recovery Care in Albert Lea, MN: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Albert Lea, MN: the local picture

0.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Albert Lea)

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Freeborn County)

5.9%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.6% in Freeborn County)

6

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Albert Lea: Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea And Austin in Albert Lea (0.3 mi); Owatonna Hospital in Owatonna (30 mi); Mayo Clinic Health System - Waseca in Waseca (31 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

257 Albert Lea residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.9%; 5.6% in Freeborn County), and 752 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Albert Lea compared with Freeborn County and Minnesota

Census figure	Albert Lea	Freeborn County	Minnesota
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.9%	5.6%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	16%	16%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	4.8%	4.5%	6.2%
Residents 65 or older	25%	23%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	31%	30%
Households with no vehicle	7.8%	5.8%	6.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,241	$49,381	—

Older residents in towns around Albert Lea

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Austin, MN	19 mi	4,489	5.9%
Waseca, MN	30 mi	1,516	4.8%
Forest City, IA	31 mi	756	6.3%
Owatonna, MN	31 mi	5,174	4.8%
Clear Lake, IA	36 mi	2,089	8.8%
Mason City, IA	36 mi	6,215	4.0%

Hospitals near Albert Lea

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mayo Clinic Health System - Albert Lea And Austin	Albert Lea, MN	0.3 mi	5 of 5	(507) 377-6490
Owatonna Hospital	Owatonna, MN	30 mi	5 of 5	(507) 451-3850
Mayo Clinic Health System - Waseca	Waseca, MN	31 mi	not rated	(507) 835-1210
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center	Mason City, IA	36 mi	2 of 5	(641) 428-7000

Home health agencies serving Albert Lea

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Good Samaritan Society - Home Care	Preston, MN	63 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 765-2700
Aveanna Home Health	Rochester, MN	51 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(507) 282-2246
Home Health Care Inc	Golden Valley, MN	93 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 417-8888
Adara Home Health Inc	Buffalo, MN	108 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(763) 682-3005
International Quality Homecare	Rochester, MN	51 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(888) 995-4742

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

What it covers

What a caregiver for stroke recovery can help with

Help with bathing, dressing and meals
Safe walking and transfers
Rides to rehabilitation and follow-up appointments
Practising the exercises therapists set

Cost

What stroke recovery support costs in Albert Lea

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 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 for stroke recovery

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year, about 610,000 of them for the first time (CDC). Many go home to recover.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after a stroke? How do you help with one-sided weakness during transfers? Can you drive to rehabilitation appointments? More in our stroke recovery support guide.

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

Questions

Stroke Recovery Support in Albert Lea: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Albert Lea?

At the Minnesota median aide wage of $18.45 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,599 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,520 monthly median income of Albert Lea households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Minnesota's minimum wage is $11.41 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a caregiver do after a stroke?

Helps with personal care, meals and moving safely, takes the person to therapy, helps them practise what therapists set, and keeps the family informed. Medical and therapy decisions stay with the care team.

More near Albert Lea

More senior care near Albert Lea

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Albert Lea

More for Albert Lea 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.

Stroke Recovery Support at Home in Albert Lea, MN