Mobility Assistance in Durham, NH: Help Walking & Transfers

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Durham, NH: the local picture

11%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Strafford County)

133

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

3.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Dover)

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Strafford County)

About 87 Durham residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (11%; 21% in Strafford County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

133 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Durham that list physical therapy include Amedisys Home Health and Wentworth Home Care & Hospice, An Amedisys Partner; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Durham compared with Strafford County and New Hampshire

Census figure	Durham	Strafford County	New Hampshire
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	11%	21%	16%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.7%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.6%	6.0%	5.0%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	33%	28%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	31%	27%
Households with no vehicle	12%	4.9%	4.6%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$92,986	$60,487	—

Older residents in towns around Durham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Dover, NH	3.7 mi	5,597	13%
Newmarket, NH	4.7 mi	756	7.2%
South Eliot, ME	6.7 mi	1,380	10%
Somersworth, NH	7.9 mi	1,700	27%
South Berwick, ME	8.8 mi	528	12%
Portsmouth, NH	9.2 mi	4,946	17%

Home health agencies serving Durham (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health	Portsmouth, NH	7.7 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(603) 436-0815
Wentworth Home Care & Hospice, An Amedisys Partner	Somersworth, NH	8.0 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(603) 692-0200
Elara Caring	Newburyport, MA	23 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(978) 904-1454
Caretenders	Epping, NH	10 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(603) 952-3500
Cornerstone Vna	Rochester, NH	12 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(603) 332-1133
Interim Healthcare	Manchester, NH	29 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(603) 668-6956

Emergency hospitals near Durham

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital	Dover, NH	3.7 mi	4 of 5	(603) 740-2580
Portsmouth Regional Hospital	Portsmouth, NH	7.7 mi	3 of 5	(603) 436-5110

Straight-line miles from the center of Durham. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance costs in Durham

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $7,749 monthly median income of Durham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire's minimum wage is $7.25 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 caregiver for mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Durham: common questions

How much does mobility assistance cost in Durham?

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $7,749 monthly median income of Durham households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Durham

More senior care near Durham

Mobility Assistance in nearby cities

Other care in Durham

More for Durham 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Durham, NH