Adult Disability Care in Gardner, MA: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in Gardner, MA: the local picture

17%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (11% in Worcester County)

966

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

11%

of households have no vehicle (8.3% in Worcester County)

24

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

About 2,090 Gardner residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (17%; 11% in Worcester County).

966 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

11% of Gardner households have no vehicle (8.3% in Worcester County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Gardner compared with Worcester County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Gardner	Worcester County	Massachusetts
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	17%	11%	9.7%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	7.9%	4.3%	3.7%
Households with no vehicle	11%	8.3%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	22%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	10%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,743	$61,599	—

Older residents in towns around Gardner

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Baldwinville, MA	4.8 mi	375	5.2%
Winchendon, MA	7.2 mi	672	16%
Fitchburg, MA	8.9 mi	5,985	15%
Leominster, MA	12 mi	8,479	12%
Athol, MA	12 mi	1,317	22%
Orange, MA	15 mi	568	26%

Home health agencies serving Gardner

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	57 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Care Central Vna & Hospice Inc	Gardner, MA	0.7 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 632-1230
Health Alliance Home Health And Hospice	Leominster, MA	13 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 708-6513
Caretenders	Needham Heights, MA	43 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 332-5015
Better Care Home Health And Hospice, Inc.	Leominster, MA	13 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 537-2273

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

What it covers

What a disability support caregiver can help with

Personal care, on the person’s terms
Cooking, shopping and housekeeping
Getting to work, school, appointments and activities
Keeping routines the person sets

Cost

What disability care for adults costs in Gardner

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,812 monthly median income of Gardner households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 disability support caregiver

Many state Medicaid programs let adults with disabilities direct their own care: they, or a representative, hire and supervise the caregiver.

Questions worth asking: Have you supported adults with a disability like mine (or my family member’s)? How do you support someone to do things themselves? Can you drive to work, school or day programs? More in our disability care for adults guide.

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

Questions

Disability Care for Adults in Gardner: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Gardner?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 45% of the $3,812 monthly median income of Gardner households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can an adult with a disability hire their own caregiver?

Yes. Many state Medicaid programs offer self-direction, where the person or a representative hires and supervises the caregiver. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers Massachusetts.

More near Gardner

More senior care near Gardner

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Gardner

More for Gardner 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.

In-Home Support for Adults With Disabilities in Gardner, MA