Stroke Recovery Care in Ithaca, MI: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Ithaca, MI: the local picture

7.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Alma)

14%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in Gratiot County)

2.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.2% in Gratiot County)

12

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Ithaca: Mymichigan Medical Center Alma in Alma (7.1 mi); University Of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson in Carson City (16 mi); University Of Michigan Health- Sparrow Clinton in Saint Johns (20 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

11 Ithaca residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (2.6%; 5.2% in Gratiot County), and 58 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Ithaca compared with Gratiot County and Michigan

Census figure	Ithaca	Gratiot County	Michigan
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	2.6%	5.2%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	14%	19%	19%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	2.6%	8.2%	7.7%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	30%	29%
Households with no vehicle	2.3%	5.2%	7.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,864	$43,153	—

Older residents in towns around Ithaca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Alma, MI	6.8 mi	1,643	2.0%
St. Louis, MI	8.2 mi	865	4.5%
St. Johns, MI	20 mi	1,706	7.1%
Mount Pleasant, MI	23 mi	1,951	8.2%
Shields, MI	28 mi	2,121	6.3%
Freeland, MI	29 mi	761	2.2%

Hospitals near Ithaca

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mymichigan Medical Center Alma	Alma, MI	7.1 mi	4 of 5	(989) 463-1101
University Of Michigan Health-Sparrow Carson	Carson City, MI	16 mi	4 of 5	(989) 584-3131
University Of Michigan Health- Sparrow Clinton	Saint Johns, MI	20 mi	4 of 5	(989) 227-3400
Mclaren Central Michigan	Mount Pleasant, MI	23 mi	3 of 5	(989) 772-6700

Home health agencies serving Ithaca

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Jackson, MI	72 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(517) 780-9500
Mclaren Home Care	Mount Pleasant, MI	23 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 772-6785
The Care Team	Saginaw, MI	31 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 341-4920
Heartland Home Health	Midland, MI	31 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 667-3440
Mymichigan Home Care	Midland, MI	31 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(989) 633-1400

Straight-line miles from the center of Ithaca. 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 Ithaca

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,405 monthly median income of Ithaca households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Ithaca: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Ithaca?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 61% of the $2,405 monthly median income of Ithaca households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Ithaca

More senior care near Ithaca

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Ithaca

More for Ithaca 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 Ithaca, MI