Stroke Recovery Care in Fort Madison, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Fort Madison, IA: the local picture

17 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (West Burlington)

20%

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

7.2%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.1% in Lee County)

6

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Fort Madison: Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in West Burlington (17 mi); Memorial Hospital in Carthage (19 mi); Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant (26 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

145 Fort Madison residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.2%; 5.1% in Lee County), and 409 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Fort Madison compared with Lee County and Iowa

Census figure	Fort Madison	Lee County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.2%	5.1%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	16%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	8.7%	7.6%	5.8%
Residents 65 or older	22%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	33%	31%
Households with no vehicle	6.5%	5.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,590	$44,102	—

Older residents in towns around Fort Madison

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Keokuk, IA	15 mi	2,065	6.7%
Hamilton, IL	16 mi	542	3.0%
West Burlington, IA	16 mi	631	4.1%
Burlington, IA	17 mi	5,107	9.9%
Mount Pleasant, IA	26 mi	1,634	9.7%
Canton, MO	35 mi	343	13%

Hospitals near Fort Madison

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center	West Burlington, IA	17 mi	4 of 5	(319) 768-1000
Memorial Hospital	Carthage, IL	19 mi	4 of 5	(217) 357-8500
Henry County Health Center	Mount Pleasant, IA	26 mi	not rated	(319) 385-3141
Van Buren County Hospital	Keosauqua, IA	34 mi	not rated	(319) 293-3171

Home health agencies serving Fort Madison

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Advanced Home Health Care Inc	Burlington, IA	18 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 753-6270
Southeast Iowa Regional Home Health	West Burlington, IA	17 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(319) 768-3350
Optimae Home Health Services	Fairfield, IA	42 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 472-4464
Lee County Health Department	Fort Madison, IA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(319) 372-5225
Sunny Brook Home Care	Fairfield, IA	42 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(641) 472-4808

Straight-line miles from the center of Fort Madison. 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 Fort Madison

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 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Fort Madison?

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 47% of the $3,216 monthly median income of Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison

More senior care near Fort Madison

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Fort Madison

More for Fort Madison 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 Fort Madison, IA