Live-In Caregivers in Melrose, MA: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in Melrose, MA: the local picture

771

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

2,553

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (69%)

57%

of Melrose homes have 3 or more bedrooms (56% in Middlesex County)

$15.00

Massachusetts minimum wage per hour

About 771 Melrose 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. 57% of homes in Melrose have three or more bedrooms (56% in Middlesex County), while 20% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 6 rooms.

Of Melrose households headed by someone 65 or older, 2,553 own their home and 1,130 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 224 owners and 185 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Melrose compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Melrose	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.0%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	28%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	8.6%	9.2%	11%
Residents 65 or older	21%	16%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	22%	29%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,929	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Melrose

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Malden, MA	1.8 mi	8,581	1,078
Stoneham, MA	2.3 mi	4,755	878
Saugus, MA	2.5 mi	6,337	634
Wakefield, MA	3.4 mi	5,268	657
Medford, MA	3.4 mi	9,028	1,442
Everett, MA	3.4 mi	5,660	708

Emergency hospitals near Melrose

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Melrosewakefield Healthcare	Melrose, MA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	(781) 979-3000
Winchester Hospital	Winchester, MA	4.3 mi	3 of 5	(781) 729-9000
Mount Auburn Hospital	Cambridge, MA	6.4 mi	4 of 5	(617) 492-3500

Straight-line miles from the center of Melrose. 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 Melrose

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $19.67 an hour (the Massachusetts median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $4,262 a month (85% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $14,320 a month (287% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Massachusetts'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 Melrose: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Melrose?

Melrosewakefield Healthcare in Melrose, about 0.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Melrose (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (781) 979-3000. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Melrose?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $19.67 an hour (the Massachusetts median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $4,262 a month (85% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $14,320 a month (287% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Massachusetts'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 Melrose?

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 Melrose 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 Melrose

More senior care near Melrose

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Melrose

More for Melrose 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 Melrose, MA