Home Health Aides in Elmira, NY: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Elmira, NY: the local picture

3

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

$19.05

median hourly wage of home care aides in New York (BLS, May 2025)

4,114

residents 65 or older (16% of Elmira)

43%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Chemung County)

3 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Elmira ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 1 of those list home health aide services. Agency aides are usually part of care a doctor orders. For help beyond those visits, families hire an aide directly.

Home health and personal care aides in New York earn a median $19.05 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $18.59 and $21.05.

Elmira has about 4,114 residents aged 65 or older, 43% of whom report a disability.

Elmira compared with Chemung County and New York

Census figure	Elmira	Chemung County	New York
Residents 65+ with a disability	43%	33%	32%
Residents 65 or older	16%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	1.6%	2.5%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	35%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	9.5%	13%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	6.0%	4.7%	31%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$40,678	$47,458	—

Older residents in towns around Elmira

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
West Elmira, NY	1.8 mi	1,071	28%
Southport, NY	2.1 mi	1,629	38%
Elmira Heights, NY	2.4 mi	705	35%
Horseheads, NY	5.3 mi	1,639	34%
Big Flats, NY	7.0 mi	1,435	25%
Horseheads North, NY	7.1 mi	414	8.2%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Elmira

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Corning, NY	13 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work	(607) 962-0102
Chemung Co Dept Health Chha	Elmira, NY	0.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(607) 737-2028
Guthrie Home Health	Cortland, NY	47 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(607) 756-3646

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

What it covers

What a home health aide can help with

Bathing, grooming, dressing and toileting
Transfers, walking and positioning
Meals and help with eating
Medication reminders

Cost

What home health aides costs in Elmira

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 49% of the $3,390 monthly median income of Elmira 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 home health aide

Federal rules require home health aides who work for Medicare-certified agencies to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, or pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR 484.80). Many states add their own requirements.

Questions worth asking: Where did you train, and can I see the certificate? Have you worked for a home health agency? Which transfers and equipment are you trained on? More in our home health aides guide.

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

Questions

Home Health Aides in Elmira: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Elmira?

Medicare lists 3 certified agencies whose service area includes Elmira ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Chemung Co Dept Health Chha (4 of 5), Guthrie Home Health (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Elmira?

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 49% of the $3,390 monthly median income of Elmira 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).

What is the difference between a home health aide and a CNA?

Both are trained in personal care. A certified nursing assistant (CNA) has passed a state exam and is on the state nurse aide registry, and often works in nursing homes and hospitals. A home health aide is trained for care in the home. Neither does skilled nursing.

More near Elmira

More senior care near Elmira

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Elmira

More for Elmira 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.

Home Health Aides in Elmira, NY