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

Local figures

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

1,245

residents 85 or older (3.8% of all residents)

2,714

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (79%)

78%

of Needham homes have 3 or more bedrooms (60% in Norfolk County)

$15.00

Massachusetts minimum wage per hour

About 1,245 Needham 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. 78% of homes in Needham have three or more bedrooms (60% in Norfolk County), while 11% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 7.7 rooms.

Of Needham households headed by someone 65 or older, 2,714 own their home and 733 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 628 owners and 171 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

Needham compared with Norfolk County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Needham	Norfolk County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	3.8%	2.4%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.8%	9.2%	11%
Residents 65 or older	18%	18%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	20%	23%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$119,930	$78,127	—

Older residents in towns around Needham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Wellesley, MA	2.7 mi	4,691	774
Newton, MA	3.9 mi	17,046	2,192
Dedham, MA	4.0 mi	5,528	1,087
Brookline, MA	5.9 mi	9,986	1,211
Cochituate, MA	6.5 mi	1,267	126
Watertown, MA	6.9 mi	6,506	762

Emergency hospitals near Needham

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham	Needham, MA	1.0 mi	5 of 5	(781) 453-3002
Newton-Wellesley Hospital	Newton, MA	3.4 mi	5 of 5	(617) 243-6000
Westwood Pembroke Health Systems	Westwood, MA	4.9 mi	not rated	(617) 762-7764

Straight-line miles from the center of Needham. 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 Needham

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 (43% of the $9,994 monthly median income of Needham 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 (143% of the $9,994 monthly median income of Needham 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 Needham: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Needham?

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham in Needham, about 1.0 mi in a straight line from the center of Needham (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (781) 453-3002. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in Needham?

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 (43% of the $9,994 monthly median income of Needham 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 (143% of the $9,994 monthly median income of Needham 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 Needham?

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 Needham 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 Needham

More senior care near Needham

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in Needham

More for Needham 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 Needham, MA