In-Home Care for Veterans in Clear Lake, IA

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Clear Lake, IA: the local picture

220

veterans aged 65 or older (11% of residents 65+)

2,089

residents 65 or older (27% of Clear Lake)

36%

of residents 65+ report a disability (31% in Cerro Gordo County)

22%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (28% in Cerro Gordo County)

About 220 Clear Lake residents aged 65 or older are veterans (11% of that age group; 14% in Cerro Gordo County), out of 344 veterans of all adult ages in town.

36% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (31% in Cerro Gordo County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Clear Lake compared with Cerro Gordo County and Iowa

Census figure	Clear Lake	Cerro Gordo County	Iowa
Residents 65+ who are veterans	11%	14%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	31%	30%
Residents 65 or older	27%	24%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	28%	31%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	22%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.0%	7.3%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,750	$50,066	—

Older residents in towns around Clear Lake

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Mason City, IA	8.8 mi	6,215	15%
Garner, IA	12 mi	916	14%
Forest City, IA	16 mi	756	11%
Belmond, IA	23 mi	727	12%
Hampton, IA	28 mi	981	20%
Osage, IA	30 mi	897	18%

Hospitals near Clear Lake

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center	Mason City, IA	9.0 mi	2 of 5	(641) 428-7000
Hancock County Health System	Britt, IA	20 mi	not rated	(641) 843-5000
Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond	Belmond, IA	23 mi	not rated	(641) 444-3223

Straight-line miles from the center of Clear Lake. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in Clear Lake

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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 a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Clear Lake: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Clear Lake?

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 34% of the $4,479 monthly median income of Clear Lake 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).

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Clear Lake

More senior care near Clear Lake

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Clear Lake

More for Clear Lake 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.