Live-In Caregivers in Helena Valley Northwest, MT

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Helena Valley Northwest, MT: the local picture

54

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

282

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (97%)

93%

of Helena Valley Northwest homes have 3 or more bedrooms (64% in Lewis and Clark County)

$10.85

Montana minimum wage per hour

About 54 Helena Valley Northwest 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. 93% of homes in Helena Valley Northwest have three or more bedrooms (64% in Lewis and Clark County); the median home has 7 rooms.

Of Helena Valley Northwest households headed by someone 65 or older, 282 own their home and 9 rent. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Helena Valley Northwest compared with Lewis and Clark County and Montana

Census figure	Helena Valley Northwest	Lewis and Clark County	Montana
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.5%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	19%	31%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	15%	31%	32%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.4%	9.7%	9.9%
Residents 65 or older	12%	20%	20%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	0.6%	2.8%	4.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$65,573	$58,352	—

Older residents in towns around Helena Valley Northwest

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Helena Valley West Central, MT	4.8 mi	1,506	59
Helena Valley Northeast, MT	5.9 mi	990	99
Helena, MT	9.3 mi	7,294	721
Helena Valley Southeast, MT	10 mi	1,697	28
Montana City, MT	15 mi	507	18
Deer Lodge, MT	39 mi	745	71

Emergency hospitals near Helena Valley Northwest

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Va Montana Healthcare System	Fort Harrison, MT	8.0 mi	5 of 5	(406) 447-7900
St Peters Health	Helena, MT	8.2 mi	3 of 5	(406) 442-2480
Billings Clinic Broadwater	Townsend, MT	38 mi	not rated	(406) 266-3186

Straight-line miles from the center of Helena Valley Northwest. 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 Helena Valley Northwest

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 (70% of the $5,464 monthly median income of Helena Valley Northwest 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 (235% of the $5,464 monthly median income of Helena Valley Northwest 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.

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 Helena Valley Northwest: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Helena Valley Northwest?

Va Montana Healthcare System in Fort Harrison, about 8.0 mi in a straight line from the center of Helena Valley Northwest (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (406) 447-7900. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Helena Valley Northwest?

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 (70% of the $5,464 monthly median income of Helena Valley Northwest 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 (235% of the $5,464 monthly median income of Helena Valley Northwest 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 Helena Valley Northwest?

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 Helena Valley Northwest 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 Helena Valley Northwest

More senior care near Helena Valley Northwest

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Helena Valley Northwest

More for Helena Valley Northwest 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.