Stroke Recovery Care in Des Moines, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Des Moines, IA: the local picture

1.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Des Moines)

23%

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

6.3%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.5% in Polk County)

24

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Des Moines: Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi in Des Moines (1.2 mi); Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center in Des Moines (2.4 mi); Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines (2.4 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

1,629 Des Moines residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.3%; 5.5% in Polk County), and 6,073 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Des Moines compared with Polk County and Iowa

Census figure	Des Moines	Polk County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	5.5%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	7.9%	6.0%	5.8%
Residents 65 or older	13%	14%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	31%
Households with no vehicle	9.0%	5.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,181	$59,099	—

Older residents in towns around Des Moines

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Pleasant Hill, IA	5.7 mi	2,222	7.2%
Windsor Heights, IA	5.7 mi	985	4.2%
Carlisle, IA	7.1 mi	523	5.2%
Saylorville, IA	7.5 mi	705	0.0%
Norwalk, IA	7.6 mi	2,002	6.2%
Altoona, IA	8.6 mi	3,684	5.2%

Hospitals near Des Moines

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi	Des Moines, IA	1.2 mi	3 of 5	(515) 343-1000
Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center	Des Moines, IA	2.4 mi	1 of 5	(515) 247-4436
Broadlawns Medical Center	Des Moines, IA	2.4 mi	3 of 5	(515) 282-2200
Va Central Iowa Healthcare System	Des Moines, IA	4.9 mi	4 of 5	(515) 699-5999

Home health agencies serving Des Moines

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Urbandale, IA	7.0 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 277-0977
Aveanna Healthcare	West Des Moines, IA	9.8 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 497-7700
Good Samaritan Society-Home Care	Indianola, IA	18 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(515) 961-2596
Elara Caring	Chariton, IA	41 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 774-2339
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	1.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 643-8383

Straight-line miles from the center of Des Moines. 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 Des Moines

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 37% of the $4,015 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Des Moines?

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 37% of the $4,015 monthly median income of Des Moines 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 Des Moines

More senior care near Des Moines

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Des Moines

More for Des Moines 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 Des Moines, IA