Stroke Recovery Care in Poteau, OK: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Poteau, OK: the local picture

0.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Poteau)

26%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (29% in Le Flore County)

9.5%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (12% in Le Flore County)

22

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Poteau: Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center in Poteau (0.4 mi); Mercy Hospital Fort Smith in Fort Smith (23 mi); Baptist Health - Fort Smith in Fort Smith (24 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

129 Poteau residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (9.5%; 12% in Le Flore County), and 346 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Poteau compared with Le Flore County and Oklahoma

Census figure	Poteau	Le Flore County	Oklahoma
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.5%	12%	7.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	26%	29%	26%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	17%	13%	9.2%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	16%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	30%	30%
Households with no vehicle	7.3%	6.3%	5.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,552	$41,884	—

Older residents in towns around Poteau

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Heavener, OK	12 mi	426	16%
Pocola, OK	15 mi	924	15%
Greenwood, AR	23 mi	1,906	9.7%
Muldrow, OK	23 mi	509	11%
Fort Smith, AR	24 mi	14,381	13%
Roland, OK	25 mi	411	14%

Hospitals near Poteau

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center	Poteau, OK	0.4 mi	4 of 5	(918) 647-8167
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith	Fort Smith, AR	23 mi	3 of 5	(479) 314-6000
Baptist Health - Fort Smith	Fort Smith, AR	24 mi	2 of 5	(479) 441-4000
Sequoyah County-City Of Sallisaw Hospital Authorit	Sallisaw, OK	30 mi	3 of 5	(918) 774-1100

Home health agencies serving Poteau

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring Xviii	Sallisaw, OK	30 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(918) 235-0536
Angels Care Home Health Vii	Poteau, OK	0.4 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(918) 647-5100
Traditions Health Of Idabel	Idabel, OK	82 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(580) 286-6541
Mays Housecall Home Health Of Tulsa, LLC	Tulsa, OK	99 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(918) 437-0620
Welcome Back Home Care, Inc.	Pocola, OK	14 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(918) 436-6179

Straight-line miles from the center of Poteau. 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 Poteau

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,546 monthly median income of Poteau households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Poteau: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Poteau?

At the Oklahoma median aide wage of $13.32 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,154 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $3,546 monthly median income of Poteau households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oklahoma'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 Poteau

More senior care near Poteau

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Poteau

More for Poteau 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 Poteau, OK