Stroke Recovery Care in Mason City, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Mason City, IA: the local picture

0.3 mi

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

18%

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

4.0%

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

3

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Mason City: Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City (0.3 mi); Floyd County Medical Center in Charles City (27 mi); Franklin General Hospital in Hampton (28 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

232 Mason City residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.0%; 4.8% in Cerro Gordo County), and 1,075 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Mason City compared with Cerro Gordo County and Iowa

Census figure	Mason City	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.0%	4.8%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	18%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.6%	6.5%	5.8%
Residents 65 or older	23%	24%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	28%	31%
Households with no vehicle	5.5%	5.0%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,705	$50,066	—

Older residents in towns around Mason City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Clear Lake, IA	8.8 mi	2,089	8.8%
Garner, IA	21 mi	916	5.4%
Osage, IA	22 mi	897	10%
Forest City, IA	23 mi	756	6.3%
Charles City, IA	27 mi	1,702	5.5%
Hampton, IA	28 mi	981	5.6%

Hospitals near Mason City

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center	Mason City, IA	0.3 mi	2 of 5	(641) 428-7000
Floyd County Medical Center	Charles City, IA	27 mi	3 of 5	(641) 228-6830
Franklin General Hospital	Hampton, IA	28 mi	not rated	(641) 456-5000
Hancock County Health System	Britt, IA	29 mi	not rated	(641) 843-5000

Home health agencies serving Mason City

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mercyone Des Moines Home Care	Des Moines, IA	110 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	0.3 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(641) 421-9300
Family First Homecare Of Iowa	Urbandale, IA	108 mi	not rated	nursing, home health aides	(515) 280-2180

Straight-line miles from the center of Mason City. 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 Mason City

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 $3,975 monthly median income of Mason City 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 Mason City: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Mason City?

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 $3,975 monthly median income of Mason City 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 Mason City

More senior care near Mason City

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Mason City

More for Mason City 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 Mason City, IA