Adult Disability Care in Hickory, NC: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in Hickory, NC: the local picture

10%

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

1,034

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

7.5%

of households have no vehicle (5.2% in Catawba County)

15

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

About 2,789 Hickory residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (10%; 11% in Catawba County).

1,034 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

7.5% of Hickory households have no vehicle (5.2% in Catawba County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Hickory compared with Catawba County and North Carolina

Census figure	Hickory	Catawba County	North Carolina
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	10%	11%	11%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	3.8%	3.7%	3.9%
Households with no vehicle	7.5%	5.2%	5.3%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	13%	13%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.9%	9.5%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,919	$48,859	—

Older residents in towns around Hickory

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
St. Stephens, NC	3.2 mi	1,924	8.1%
Long View, NC	3.8 mi	881	27%
Mountain View, NC	4.8 mi	816	14%
Bethlehem, NC	5.5 mi	1,145	18%
Conover, NC	6.0 mi	1,545	8.7%
Granite Falls, NC	7.1 mi	908	9.9%

Home health agencies serving Hickory

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Washington, NC	235 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(252) 946-7145
Centerwell Home Health	Hickory, NC	4.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(913) 814-2077
Centerwell Home Health	Hickory, NC	4.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(828) 270-3990
Adoration Home Health	Lenoir, NC	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—
Centerwell Home Health	Shelby, NC	32 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—

Straight-line miles from the center of Hickory. 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 Hickory

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,077 monthly median income of Hickory households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina'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 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 Hickory: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Hickory?

At the North Carolina median aide wage of $15.02 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,302 a month in wages, which is 32% of the $4,077 monthly median income of Hickory households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 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 North Carolina.

More near Hickory

More senior care near Hickory

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Hickory

More for Hickory 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 Hickory, NC