Stroke Recovery Care in Big Lake, AK: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Big Lake, AK: the local picture

22 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Anchorage)

20%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough)

8.3%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.2% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough)

3

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Big Lake: Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage (22 mi); Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage (22 mi); Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage (22 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

46 Big Lake residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.3%; 7.2% in Matanuska-Susitna Borough), and 113 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Big Lake compared with Matanuska-Susitna Borough and Alaska

Census figure	Big Lake	Matanuska-Susitna Borough	Alaska
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.3%	7.2%	6.8%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	21%	19%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.6%	7.7%	7.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	14%	14%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	26%	27%
Households with no vehicle	2.5%	3.8%	9.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,722	$63,354	—

Older residents in towns around Big Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Knik-Fairview, AK	12 mi	2,183	6.3%
Meadow Lakes, AK	15 mi	1,113	9.4%
Wasilla, AK	18 mi	1,659	11%
Tanaina, AK	20 mi	964	5.9%
South Lakes, AK	22 mi	728	7.8%
North Lakes, AK	23 mi	1,321	5.6%

Hospitals near Big Lake

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Providence Alaska Medical Center	Anchorage, AK	22 mi	3 of 5	(907) 562-2211
Alaska Regional Hospital	Anchorage, AK	22 mi	1 of 5	(907) 276-1131
Alaska Native Medical Center	Anchorage, AK	22 mi	2 of 5	(907) 563-2662
North Star Hospital	Anchorage, AK	22 mi	not rated	(907) 264-3526

Home health agencies serving Big Lake

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Enhabit Home Health	Anchorage, AK	23 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(907) 272-1275
Ancora Home Health & Hospice	Wasilla, AK	20 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(907) 561-0700
St. Agatha Home Healthcare, LLC	Anchorage, AK	23 mi	not rated	—	(907) 302-2462

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Lake. 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 Big Lake

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,810 monthly median income of Big Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in Alaska: consumer-directed personal care.

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 Big Lake: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Big Lake?

At the Alaska median aide wage of $19.11 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,656 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $5,810 monthly median income of Big Lake households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alaska's minimum wage is $14.00 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 Big Lake

More senior care near Big Lake

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Big Lake

More for Big Lake 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 Big Lake, AK