CNA Home Care in Portland, ME: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Portland, ME: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

555

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$18.55

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

$15.10

Maine minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Portland are Pinnacle Health & Rehab At South Portland in So Portland (3.6 mi), Seaside Healthcare LLC in Portland (5.0 mi), Cedars Nursing Care Center in Portland (5.6 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in Maine earn a median $18.55 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Portland has about 1,706 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Portland compared with Cumberland County and Maine

Census figure	Portland	Cumberland County	Maine
Residents 85 or older	2.5%	2.2%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	30%	26%	31%
Residents 65 or older	17%	20%	22%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.1%	7.5%	9.4%
Households with no vehicle	15%	6.9%	6.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,471	$67,204	—

Older residents in towns around Portland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
South Portland, ME	5.0 mi	5,580	519
Oak Hill, ME	8.2 mi	1,653	205
Westbrook, ME	9.8 mi	3,753	393
Old Orchard Beach, ME	11 mi	3,098	145
Cumberland Center, ME	12 mi	306	9
Yarmouth, ME	12 mi	1,221	235

Nursing homes near Portland

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pinnacle Health & Rehab At South Portland	So Portland, ME	3.6 mi	3 of 5	73	(207) 799-8561
Seaside Healthcare LLC	Portland, ME	5.0 mi	4 of 5	147	(207) 774-7878
Cedars Nursing Care Center	Portland, ME	5.6 mi	4 of 5	102	(207) 772-5456
Fallbrook Commons	Portland, ME	6.8 mi	3 of 5	102	(207) 331-9292
Piper Shores	Scarborough, ME	7.2 mi	5 of 5	40	(207) 883-8700
Sedgewood Commons	Falmouth, ME	7.3 mi	3 of 5	91	(207) 781-5775

Home health agencies serving Portland

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Mainehealth Home Health And Hospice	Saco, ME	16 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(207) 284-4566
Interim Healthcare	Manchester, NH	78 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(603) 668-6956
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice	So Portland, ME	4.3 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 757-3326

Straight-line miles from the center of Portland. 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 Portland

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,873 monthly median income of Portland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 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 Portland: common questions

What nursing homes are near Portland?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Pinnacle Health & Rehab At South Portland in So Portland (3.6 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Seaside Healthcare LLC in Portland (5.0 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Cedars Nursing Care Center in Portland (5.6 mi, 4 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Portland?

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,873 monthly median income of Portland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Portland

More senior care near Portland

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Portland

More for Portland 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 Portland, ME