Adult Disability Care in Ithaca, NY: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in Ithaca, NY: the local picture

7.9%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (9.8% in Tompkins County)

641

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

27%

of households have no vehicle (14% in Tompkins County)

3

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

About 2,137 Ithaca residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (7.9%; 9.8% in Tompkins County).

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

27% of Ithaca households have no vehicle (14% in Tompkins County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

Ithaca compared with Tompkins County and New York

Census figure	Ithaca	Tompkins County	New York
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	7.9%	9.8%	9.8%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	2.4%	3.0%	3.8%
Households with no vehicle	27%	14%	29%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	26%	17%	31%
Residents 65+ with a disability	24%	27%	32%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.8%	7.9%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$76,893	$74,031	—

Older residents in towns around Ithaca

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Cayuga Heights, NY	1.8 mi	1,254	6.9%
South Hill, NY	2.4 mi	508	13%
Northeast Ithaca, NY	2.6 mi	473	6.4%
Lansing, NY	3.3 mi	322	16%
Munsons Corners, NY	18 mi	410	14%
Cortland, NY	20 mi	2,194	14%

Home health agencies serving Ithaca

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Vns Ithaca Tompkins Co Chha	Ithaca, NY	0.4 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(607) 273-0466
Guthrie Home Health	Cortland, NY	19 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(607) 756-3646
Hcr Home Care	East Syracuse, NY	49 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(315) 280-0681

Straight-line miles from the center of Ithaca. 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 Ithaca

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,408 monthly median income of Ithaca households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member.

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 Ithaca: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in Ithaca?

At the New York median aide wage of $19.05 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,651 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $6,408 monthly median income of Ithaca households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New York's minimum wage is $17.00 in New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester counties, $16.00 in the rest of the state (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 CDPAP in New York: how to get paid to care for a family member covers New York.

More near Ithaca

More senior care near Ithaca

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in Ithaca

More for Ithaca 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 Ithaca, NY