Stroke Recovery Care in Ottumwa, IA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Ottumwa, IA: the local picture

0.9 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Ottumwa)

25%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25% in Wapello County)

6.5%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.6% in Wapello County)

5

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Ottumwa: Ottumwa Regional Health Center in Ottumwa (0.9 mi); Monroe County Hospital in Albia (19 mi); Davis County Hospital in Bloomfield (20 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

253 Ottumwa residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.5%; 5.6% in Wapello County), and 991 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Ottumwa compared with Wapello County and Iowa

Census figure	Ottumwa	Wapello County	Iowa
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.5%	5.6%	5.1%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	25%	17%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	9.0%	7.6%	5.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	28%	31%
Households with no vehicle	7.7%	6.6%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$46,778	$51,144	—

Older residents in towns around Ottumwa

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Bloomfield, IA	19 mi	514	13%
Albia, IA	20 mi	812	9.8%
Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	2,347	8.3%
Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2,519	1.3%
Centerville, IA	31 mi	1,205	6.7%
Pella, IA	37 mi	2,017	3.4%

Hospitals near Ottumwa

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Ottumwa Regional Health Center	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	2 of 5	(641) 682-7511
Monroe County Hospital	Albia, IA	19 mi	not rated	(641) 932-2134
Davis County Hospital	Bloomfield, IA	20 mi	not rated	(641) 664-2145
Mahaska Health Partnership	Oskaloosa, IA	22 mi	4 of 5	(641) 672-3100

Home health agencies serving Ottumwa

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Centerville, IA	31 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(641) 437-1117
Iowa Home Care, L L C	Ottumwa, IA	0.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 226-5050
Optimae Home Health Services	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(641) 472-4464
Everystep	Des Moines, IA	70 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(515) 558-9591
Sunny Brook Home Care	Fairfield, IA	24 mi	1.5 of 5	nursing, home health aides	(641) 472-4808

Straight-line miles from the center of Ottumwa. 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 Ottumwa

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Ottumwa?

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 39% of the $3,898 monthly median income of Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa

More senior care near Ottumwa

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Ottumwa

More for Ottumwa 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 Ottumwa, IA