Home Health Aides in Gardner, MA: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Gardner, MA: the local picture

24

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

$19.67

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

4,135

residents 65 or older (20% of Gardner)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Worcester County)

24 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Gardner ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 8 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 Massachusetts earn a median $19.67 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $19.06 and $21.03.

Gardner has about 4,135 residents aged 65 or older, 34% of whom report a disability.

Gardner compared with Worcester County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Gardner	Worcester County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	32%	30%
Residents 65 or older	20%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.8%	1.9%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	10%	10%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	14%	22%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,743	$61,599	—

Older residents in towns around Gardner

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Baldwinville, MA	4.8 mi	375	37%
Winchendon, MA	7.2 mi	672	54%
Fitchburg, MA	8.9 mi	5,985	40%
Leominster, MA	12 mi	8,479	34%
Athol, MA	12 mi	1,317	36%
Orange, MA	15 mi	568	51%

Medicare-certified 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
Vna Care Network	Worcester, MA	21 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 728-1862
Complete Vna	Worcester, MA	23 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 244-1530
Acclaim Home Health Care, Inc	Worcester, MA	25 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(508) 459-6937

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 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 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 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 Gardner: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Gardner?

Medicare lists 24 certified agencies whose service area includes Gardner ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Elara Caring (5 of 5), Care Central Vna & Hospice Inc (3.5 of 5), Health Alliance Home Health And Hospice (3.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides 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).

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 Gardner

More senior care near Gardner

Home Health Aides 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.

Home Health Aides in Gardner, MA