Adult Disability Care in New Bedford, MA: In-Home Support

Local figures

Disability Care for Adults in New Bedford, MA: the local picture

15%

of residents aged 18 to 64 have a disability (13% in Bristol County)

3,803

residents aged 18 to 64 have difficulty doing errands alone

17%

of households have no vehicle (9.5% in Bristol County)

32

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

About 9,296 New Bedford residents aged 18 to 64 report a disability (15%; 13% in Bristol County).

3,803 of them have difficulty doing errands such as shopping or visiting a doctor alone, the kind of help a support caregiver gives.

17% of New Bedford households have no vehicle (9.5% in Bristol County); say in your posting if you need a caregiver who drives.

New Bedford compared with Bristol County and Massachusetts

Census figure	New Bedford	Bristol County	Massachusetts
Residents 18 to 64 with a disability	15%	13%	9.7%
Residents 18 to 64 with difficulty doing errands alone	6.2%	5.2%	3.7%
Households with no vehicle	17%	9.5%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	38%	22%	25%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	11%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,345	$54,856	—

Older residents in towns around New Bedford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Disability (18 to 64)
Acushnet Center, MA	2.3 mi	816	12%
Smith Mills, MA	3.3 mi	976	11%
Bliss Corner, MA	3.9 mi	1,499	14%
Mattapoisett Center, MA	7.2 mi	719	4.5%
North Westport, MA	9.0 mi	861	12%
Fall River, MA	9.2 mi	15,169	20%

Home health agencies serving New Bedford

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	38 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Centerwell Home Health	Fall River, MA	10 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(508) 672-0675
Pivot Point Homecare Services LLC	Westborough, MA	55 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 873-1358
Amedisys Home Health Care	Wakefield, MA	58 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 685-2818
Community Nurse, Inc	Fairhaven, MA	2.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 992-6278

Straight-line miles from the center of New Bedford. 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 New Bedford

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 52% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 New Bedford: common questions

How much does disability care for adults cost in New Bedford?

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 52% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 New Bedford

More senior care near New Bedford

Disability Care for Adults in nearby cities

Other care in New Bedford

More for New Bedford 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 New Bedford, MA