CNA Home Care in Merkel, TX: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Merkel, TX: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

657

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$11.65

median hourly wage of home care aides in Texas (BLS, May 2025)

$7.25

Texas minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Merkel are Merkel Nursing Center in Merkel (0.5 mi), Willowcreek Rehab And Nursing in Abilene (13 mi), Wisteria Place in Abilene (15 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Texas earn a median $11.65 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Merkel has about 70 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Merkel compared with Taylor County and Texas

Census figure	Merkel	Taylor County	Texas
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.0%	1.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	56%	37%	35%
Residents 65 or older	17%	15%	13%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	28%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	17%	13%	12%
Households with no vehicle	1.9%	3.8%	5.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,956	$55,637	—

Older residents in towns around Merkel

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Abilene, TX	16 mi	17,807	2,610
Anson, TX	21 mi	594	39
Potosi, TX	21 mi	717	96
Sweetwater, TX	23 mi	1,817	304
Clyde, TX	30 mi	603	60
Stamford, TX	47 mi	579	85

Nursing homes near Merkel

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Merkel Nursing Center	Merkel, TX	0.5 mi	1 of 5	65	(325) 928-5673
Willowcreek Rehab And Nursing	Abilene, TX	13 mi	2 of 5	96	(325) 692-2172
Wisteria Place	Abilene, TX	15 mi	3 of 5	123	(325) 692-6145
Mesa Springs Healthcare Center	Abilene, TX	15 mi	2 of 5	89	(325) 692-8080
Northern Oaks Living & Rehabilitation Center	Abilene, TX	16 mi	3 of 5	96	(325) 676-1677
Avir At Coronado	Abilene, TX	16 mi	1 of 5	188	(325) 673-3531

Home health agencies serving Merkel

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Kinder Hearts Home Health	Abilene, TX	15 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(325) 672-6135
Centerwell Home Health	Abilene, TX	15 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(325) 691-9947
Vitalcaring Group	Ft Worth, TX	161 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(817) 864-1730
Vitalcaring Group	Sulphur Springs, TX	261 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(903) 885-5606

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

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs costs in Merkel

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $2,996 monthly median income of Merkel households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas'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 STAR+PLUS in Texas: using consumer directed services to pay a family caregiver.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Merkel: common questions

What nursing homes are near Merkel?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Merkel Nursing Center in Merkel (0.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Willowcreek Rehab And Nursing in Abilene (13 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Wisteria Place in Abilene (15 mi, 3 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Merkel?

At the Texas median aide wage of $11.65 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,010 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $2,996 monthly median income of Merkel households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Texas's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Can a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Merkel

More senior care near Merkel

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Merkel

More for Merkel 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Merkel, TX