Home Health Aides in Orono, ME: Hire In-Home Help

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Orono, ME: the local picture

5

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

$18.55

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

1,227

residents 65 or older (11% of Orono)

25%

of residents 65+ report a disability (37% in Penobscot County)

5 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Orono ZIP codes in their service area; the highest-rated are below, and 3 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 Maine earn a median $18.55 an hour (BLS, May 2025), with the middle half between $17.59 and $20.99.

Orono has about 1,227 residents aged 65 or older, 25% of whom report a disability.

Orono compared with Penobscot County and Maine

Census figure	Orono	Penobscot County	Maine
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	37%	31%
Residents 65 or older	11%	20%	22%
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.3%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	1.8%	12%	9.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	11%	4.9%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$76,042	$50,478	—

Older residents in towns around Orono

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Old Town, ME	5.8 mi	1,259	36%
Bangor, ME	6.0 mi	6,353	41%
Brewer, ME	6.9 mi	2,163	36%
Hampden, ME	12 mi	962	43%
Bucksport, ME	21 mi	1,040	34%
Ellsworth, ME	23 mi	1,913	29%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Orono

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Bangor, ME	6.3 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(207) 990-9000
Amedisys Home Health	Bangor, ME	6.3 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(207) 990-0029
Community Health & Counseling Services	Bangor, ME	6.9 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(207) 947-0366
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice	So Portland, ME	116 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 757-3326
St Joseph Homecare	Bangor, ME	6.3 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(207) 907-1810

Straight-line miles from the center of Orono. 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 Orono

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,337 monthly median income of Orono households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Orono: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Orono?

Medicare lists 5 certified agencies whose service area includes Orono ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Amedisys Home Health (4 of 5), Community Health & Counseling Services (3 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Orono?

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 25% of the $6,337 monthly median income of Orono households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Orono

More senior care near Orono

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Orono

More for Orono 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 Orono, ME