Live-In Caregivers in Ellicott City, MD: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Ellicott City, MD: the local picture

1,618

residents 85 or older (2.1% of all residents)

6,311

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (78%)

73%

of Ellicott City homes have 3 or more bedrooms (72% in Howard County)

$15.00

Maryland minimum wage per hour

About 1,618 Ellicott City 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. 73% of homes in Ellicott City have three or more bedrooms (72% in Howard County), while 8.8% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 7.2 rooms.

Of Ellicott City households headed by someone 65 or older, 6,311 own their home and 1,773 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 562 owners and 425 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Ellicott City compared with Howard County and Maryland

Census figure	Ellicott City	Howard County	Maryland
Residents 85 or older	2.1%	1.6%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	19%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	25%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	5.1%	5.7%	9.5%
Residents 65 or older	19%	15%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	34%	28%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$104,474	$110,656	—

Older residents in towns around Ellicott City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Catonsville, MD	5.0 mi	9,223	2,072
Woodlawn, MD	5.0 mi	6,263	413
Columbia, MD	5.4 mi	18,042	2,452
Ilchester, MD	5.7 mi	2,876	247
Milford Mill, MD	6.0 mi	4,018	290
Randallstown, MD	6.8 mi	7,881	864

Emergency hospitals near Ellicott City

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center	Columbia, MD	4.9 mi	3 of 5	(410) 740-7890
Northwest Hospital Center	Randallstown, MD	7.0 mi	2 of 5	(410) 521-2200
Saint Agnes Hospital	Baltimore, MD	7.7 mi	3 of 5	(410) 368-6000

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

What it covers

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

Cost

What live-in care costs in Ellicott City

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.29 an hour (the Maryland median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,963 a month (46% of the $8,706 monthly median income of Ellicott City households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,315 a month (153% of the $8,706 monthly median income of Ellicott City households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Maryland'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 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.

Questions

Live-In Caregivers in Ellicott City: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Ellicott City?

Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center in Columbia, about 4.9 mi in a straight line from the center of Ellicott City (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (410) 740-7890. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Ellicott City?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.29 an hour (the Maryland median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,963 a month (46% of the $8,706 monthly median income of Ellicott City households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,315 a month (153% of the $8,706 monthly median income of Ellicott City households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Maryland's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Live-in or 24-hour care in Ellicott City?

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 Ellicott City 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 near Ellicott City

More senior care near Ellicott City

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Ellicott City

More for Ellicott City 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.

Live-In Caregivers in Ellicott City, MD