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

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in New Bedford, MA: the local picture

1,946

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

5,819

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (55%)

53%

of New Bedford homes have 3 or more bedrooms (60% in Bristol County)

$15.00

Massachusetts minimum wage per hour

About 1,946 New Bedford 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. 53% of homes in New Bedford have three or more bedrooms (60% in Bristol County), while 17% have one bedroom or none, where live-in care rarely works; the median home has 5.2 rooms.

Of New Bedford households headed by someone 65 or older, 5,819 own their home and 4,758 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 786 owners and 526 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

New Bedford compared with Bristol County and Massachusetts

Census figure	New Bedford	Bristol County	Massachusetts
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	2.1%	2.2%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ with a disability	36%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	11%	11%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	18%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	38%	22%	25%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,345	$54,856	—

Older residents in towns around New Bedford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Acushnet Center, MA	2.3 mi	816	77
Smith Mills, MA	3.3 mi	976	142
Bliss Corner, MA	3.9 mi	1,499	230
Mattapoisett Center, MA	7.2 mi	719	234
North Westport, MA	9.0 mi	861	80
Fall River, MA	9.2 mi	15,169	1,981

Emergency hospitals near New Bedford

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Southcoast Hospitals Group	Fall River, MA	11 mi	4 of 5	(508) 679-3131
Saint Anne's Hospital	Fall River, MA	12 mi	3 of 5	(508) 674-5600
Falmouth Hospital	Falmouth, MA	18 mi	4 of 5	(508) 548-5300

Straight-line miles from the center of New Bedford. 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 New Bedford

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 (130% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 (437% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 New Bedford: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to New Bedford?

Southcoast Hospitals Group in Fall River, about 11 mi in a straight line from the center of New Bedford (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (508) 679-3131. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in New Bedford?

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 (130% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 (437% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 New Bedford?

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 New Bedford 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 New Bedford

More senior care near New Bedford

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in New Bedford

More for New Bedford 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 New Bedford, MA