Live-In Caregivers in Elsmere, DE
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 Elsmere for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Live-In Caregivers in Elsmere, DE: the local picture
About 124 Elsmere 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. 55% of homes in Elsmere have three or more bedrooms (69% in New Castle County), while 8.1% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.4 rooms.
Of Elsmere households headed by someone 65 or older, 379 own their home and 114 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 72 owners and 0 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.
Elsmere compared with New Castle County and Delaware
| Census figure | Elsmere | New Castle County | Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 85 or older | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.0% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 33% | 28% | 25% |
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 37% | 31% | 30% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 15% | 7.8% | 7.6% |
| Residents 65 or older | 12% | 17% | 21% |
| Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home | 23% | 17% | 15% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $43,672 | $68,907 | — |
Older residents in towns around Elsmere
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | Residents 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, DE | 2.6 mi | 988 | 87 |
| Wilmington, DE | 3.3 mi | 11,083 | 1,201 |
| Wilmington Manor, DE | 3.7 mi | 1,602 | 141 |
| Edgemoor, DE | 4.8 mi | 983 | 104 |
| New Castle, DE | 5.0 mi | 1,279 | 130 |
| Pike Creek, DE | 5.4 mi | 1,419 | 78 |
Emergency hospitals near Elsmere
| Hospital with an emergency department | Town | Distance | CMS overall rating | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Francis Hospital | Wilmington, DE | 0.7 mi | 3 of 5 | (302) 421-4100 |
| Wilmington Va Medical Center | Wilmington, DE | 0.7 mi | 4 of 5 | (302) 994-2511 |
| Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware | Wilmington, DE | 2.6 mi | not rated | (302) 651-4000 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Elsmere. 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 Elsmere
Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $16.50 an hour (the Delaware median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,575 a month (98% of the $3,639 monthly median income of Elsmere households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,012 a month (330% of the $3,639 monthly median income of Elsmere households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Delaware'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.
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 Elsmere: common questions
Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Elsmere?
St Francis Hospital in Wilmington, about 0.7 mi in a straight line from the center of Elsmere (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (302) 421-4100. In an emergency, call 911.
How much does live-in care cost in Elsmere?
Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $16.50 an hour (the Delaware median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,575 a month (98% of the $3,639 monthly median income of Elsmere households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $12,012 a month (330% of the $3,639 monthly median income of Elsmere households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Delaware'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 Elsmere?
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 Elsmere 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 Elsmere
Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities
- Live-In Caregivers in Greenville, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Wilmington, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Wilmington Manor, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Edgemoor, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in New Castle, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Pike Creek, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Pike Creek Valley, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Hockessin, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Penns Grove, NJ
- Live-In Caregivers in Carneys Point, NJ
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- Live-In Caregivers in Brookside, DE
- Live-In Caregivers in Pennsville, NJ
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Other care in Elsmere
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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