Live-In Caregivers in Bigfork, MT
A caregiver who lives in the home, for someone who needs help across the day and a person nearby at night. Post what you need in Bigfork for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Live-In Caregivers in Bigfork, MT: the local picture
About 260 Bigfork residents are 85 or older. Live-in care is most often arranged for this age group, when help is needed through the day and someone should be close at night.
A live-in caregiver needs a private room. 60% of homes in Bigfork have three or more bedrooms (65% in Flathead County), while 9.9% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.7 rooms.
Of Bigfork households headed by someone 65 or older, 937 own their home and 264 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 121 owners and 81 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.
Bigfork compared with Flathead County and Montana
| Census figure | Bigfork | Flathead County | Montana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 85 or older | 4.7% | 1.7% | 1.9% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 34% | 30% | 29% |
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 30% | 29% | 32% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 6.3% | 10.0% | 9.9% |
| Residents 65 or older | 33% | 21% | 20% |
| Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home | 3.7% | 3.0% | 4.2% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $82,266 | $53,171 | — |
Older residents in towns around Bigfork
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | Residents 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evergreen, MT | 14 mi | 1,293 | 157 |
| Kalispell, MT | 16 mi | 5,461 | 726 |
| Columbia Falls, MT | 21 mi | 667 | 58 |
| Polson, MT | 28 mi | 1,348 | 133 |
| Whitefish, MT | 28 mi | 2,043 | 75 |
| North Browning, MT | 58 mi | 282 | 24 |
Emergency hospitals near Bigfork
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Health Medical Center | Kalispell, MT | 14 mi | 3 of 5 | (406) 752-5111 |
| Logan Health - Whitefish | Whitefish, MT | 26 mi | 3 of 5 | (406) 863-3550 |
| Providence St Joseph Medical Center | Polson, MT | 28 mi | not rated | (406) 883-5377 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Bigfork. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.
What a live-in caregiver can help with
- Help across the day: meals, housekeeping, personal care
- Someone in the home overnight if help is needed
- Medication reminders and appointment rides
- Companionship and a steady routine
What live-in care costs in Bigfork
Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $17.61 an hour (the Montana median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,816 a month (56% of the $6,856 monthly median income of Bigfork households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,820 a month (187% of the $6,856 monthly median income of Bigfork households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 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.
What to know before hiring a live-in caregiver
Put the arrangement in writing: hours on duty, sleep time, days off, the room and pay (federal rules: DOL Fact Sheet 79B).
Questions worth asking: Have you lived in with a client before, and for how long? What days off and sleep time do you need? How do you handle being woken at night? More in our live-in caregivers guide.
CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.
Live-In Caregivers in Bigfork: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Bigfork?
Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, about 14 mi in a straight line from the center of Bigfork (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (406) 752-5111. In an emergency, call 911.
How much does live-in care cost in Bigfork?
Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $17.61 an hour (the Montana median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,816 a month (56% of the $6,856 monthly median income of Bigfork households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,820 a month (187% of the $6,856 monthly median income of Bigfork households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Montana's minimum wage is $10.85 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).
Live-in or 24-hour care in Bigfork?
A live-in caregiver sleeps in the home and has protected sleep and break time. 24-hour care uses two or three caregivers in shifts so someone is always awake; in Bigfork it costs more than three times as much a month (see the cost section above). Choose shifts if help is needed several times a night.
More senior care near Bigfork
Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities
Other care in Bigfork
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.
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