Stroke Recovery Care in Clear Lake, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Clear Lake, IA: the local picture

9.0 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Mason City)

22%

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

8.8%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.8% in Cerro Gordo County)

2

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Clear Lake: Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City (9.0 mi); Hancock County Health System in Britt (20 mi); Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond in Belmond (23 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

178 Clear Lake residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.8%; 4.8% in Cerro Gordo County), and 456 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Clear Lake compared with Cerro Gordo County and Iowa

Census figure	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.8%	4.8%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	22%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	11%	6.5%	5.8%
Residents 65 or older	27%	24%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	28%	31%
Households with no vehicle	6.4%	5.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,750	$50,066	—

Older residents in towns around Clear Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Mason City, IA	8.8 mi	6,215	4.0%
Garner, IA	12 mi	916	5.4%
Forest City, IA	16 mi	756	6.3%
Belmond, IA	23 mi	727	1.8%
Hampton, IA	28 mi	981	5.6%
Osage, IA	30 mi	897	10%

Hospitals near Clear Lake

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center	Mason City, IA	9.0 mi	2 of 5	(641) 428-7000
Hancock County Health System	Britt, IA	20 mi	not rated	(641) 843-5000
Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond	Belmond, IA	23 mi	not rated	(641) 444-3223
Franklin General Hospital	Hampton, IA	29 mi	not rated	(641) 456-5000

Home health agencies serving Clear Lake

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	108 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383
Cerro Gordo County Department Of Public Health	Mason City, IA	9.0 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 421-9300

Straight-line miles from the center of Clear 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 Clear Lake

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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 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 Clear Lake: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Clear Lake?

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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 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 Clear Lake

More senior care near Clear Lake

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Clear Lake

More for Clear 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 Clear Lake, IA