Live-In Caregivers in St. James, MD: 24-Hour Home Care

Local figures

Live-In Caregivers in St. James, MD: the local picture

95

residents 85 or older (2.0% of all residents)

531

households headed by someone 65+ own their home (94%)

83%

of St. James homes have 3 or more bedrooms (68% in Washington County)

$15.00

Maryland minimum wage per hour

About 95 St. James 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. 83% of homes in St. James have three or more bedrooms (68% in Washington County); the median home has 6.3 rooms.

Of St. James households headed by someone 65 or older, 531 own their home and 36 rent; among householders 85 and older it is 16 owners and 19 renters. Renters should check that the lease allows another adult to live in before anyone moves in.

St. James compared with Washington County and Maryland

Census figure	St. James	Washington County	Maryland
Residents 85 or older	2.0%	2.1%	1.9%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	28%	27%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.5%	9.0%	9.5%
Residents 65 or older	20%	18%	17%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	21%	9.4%	21%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$74,926	$56,121	—

Older residents in towns around St. James

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Halfway, MD	3.1 mi	2,320	420
Hagerstown, MD	4.8 mi	6,354	707
Robinwood, MD	5.8 mi	1,273	194
Boonsboro, MD	6.2 mi	576	170
Paramount-Long Meadow, MD	7.9 mi	468	72
Fountainhead-Orchard Hills, MD	8.0 mi	1,362	77

Emergency hospitals near St. James

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Meritus Medical Center	Hagerstown, MD	6.5 mi	3 of 5	(240) 313-9500
Berkeley Medical Center	Martinsburg, WV	14 mi	3 of 5	(304) 264-1000
Martinsburg Va Medical Center	Martinsburg, WV	16 mi	4 of 5	(304) 263-0811

Straight-line miles from the center of St. James. 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 St. James

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.29 an hour (the Maryland median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,963 a month (63% of the $6,244 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,315 a month (213% of the $6,244 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Maryland'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 St. James: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to St. James?

Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, about 6.5 mi in a straight line from the center of St. James (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (240) 313-9500. In an emergency, call 911.

How much does live-in care cost in St. James?

Live-in pay is often agreed by the day or week, but every hour worked counts toward minimum wage. At $18.29 an hour (the Maryland median aide wage), a live-in caregiver paid for 50 hours a week costs about $3,963 a month (63% of the $6,244 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65+). Round-the-clock shift care, 168 paid hours a week across two or three caregivers, comes to about $13,315 a month (213% of the $6,244 monthly median income of St. James households headed by someone 65+). Private rates are agreed with the caregiver, and overtime rules can add to both. Maryland'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 St. James?

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 St. James 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 St. James

More senior care near St. James

Live-In Caregivers in nearby cities

Other care in St. James

More for St. James 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 St. James, MD