Stroke Recovery Care in Cresco, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Cresco, IA: the local picture

0.8 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Cresco)

15%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (13% in Howard County)

11%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.8% in Howard County)

3

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Cresco: Regional Health Services Of Howard County in Cresco (0.8 mi); Winnmed in Decorah (17 mi); Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton in New Hampton (24 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

80 Cresco residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (11%; 7.8% in Howard County), and 111 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Cresco compared with Howard County and Iowa

Census figure	Cresco	Howard County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	11%	7.8%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	15%	13%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	6.0%	6.6%	5.8%
Residents 65 or older	21%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	24%	31%
Households with no vehicle	2.2%	4.9%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,000	$49,200	—

Older residents in towns around Cresco

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Decorah, IA	17 mi	1,807	2.6%
New Hampton, IA	24 mi	695	1.4%
Chatfield, MN	33 mi	453	4.1%
Waukon, IA	33 mi	1,054	12%
Postville, IA	34 mi	310	4.9%
Charles City, IA	35 mi	1,702	5.5%

Hospitals near Cresco

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Regional Health Services Of Howard County	Cresco, IA	0.8 mi	4 of 5	(563) 547-2101
Winnmed	Decorah, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	(563) 382-2911
Mercy Medical Center-New Hampton	New Hampton, IA	24 mi	not rated	(641) 394-4121
Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital And Clinics	West Union, IA	33 mi	5 of 5	(563) 422-3811

Home health agencies serving Cresco

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Community Health Services	Cresco, IA	0.8 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 547-2989
Winnmed Home Health	Decorah, IA	17 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(563) 387-3024
Unitypoint At Home	Waterloo, IA	60 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 235-3702

Straight-line miles from the center of Cresco. 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 Cresco

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 38% of the $4,000 monthly median income of Cresco 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 Cresco: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Cresco?

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 38% of the $4,000 monthly median income of Cresco 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 Cresco

More senior care near Cresco

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Cresco

More for Cresco 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 Cresco, IA