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

Local figures

Home Health Aides in Portland, ME: the local picture

7

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

$18.55

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

11,616

residents 65 or older (17% of Portland)

30%

of residents 65+ report a disability (26% in Cumberland County)

7 Medicare-certified home health agencies list Portland 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.

Portland has about 11,616 residents aged 65 or older, 30% of whom report a disability.

Portland compared with Cumberland County and Maine

Census figure	Portland	Cumberland County	Maine
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	26%	31%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	22%
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.1%	7.5%	9.4%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	13%	7.6%	6.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,471	$67,204	—

Older residents in towns around Portland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
South Portland, ME	5.0 mi	5,580	33%
Oak Hill, ME	8.2 mi	1,653	22%
Westbrook, ME	9.8 mi	3,753	30%
Old Orchard Beach, ME	11 mi	3,098	27%
Cumberland Center, ME	12 mi	306	23%
Yarmouth, ME	12 mi	1,221	37%

Medicare-certified home health agencies serving Portland

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	South Portland, ME	4.3 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work	(207) 703-2413
Amedisys Home Health	Portland, ME	5.5 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(207) 772-7520
Centerwell Home Health	South Portland, ME	4.3 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work	(207) 772-0954
Mainehealth Home Health And Hospice	Saco, ME	16 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(207) 284-4566
Bayada Home Health Care Inc	Kennubunk, ME	25 mi	4 of 5	—	(207) 849-8842
Interim Healthcare	Manchester, NH	78 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(603) 668-6956
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice	So Portland, ME	4.3 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 757-3326

Straight-line miles from the center of Portland. 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 Portland

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 33% of the $4,873 monthly median income of Portland 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 Portland: common questions

Which home health agencies serve Portland?

Medicare lists 7 certified agencies whose service area includes Portland ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Elara Caring (4.5 of 5), Amedisys Home Health (4.5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does home health aides cost in Portland?

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 33% of the $4,873 monthly median income of Portland 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 Portland

More senior care near Portland

Home Health Aides in nearby cities

Other care in Portland

More for Portland 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 Portland, ME