Parkinson's Care in Amherst Town, MA: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Amherst Town, MA: the local picture

10%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (15% in Hampshire County)

5.7%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (5.9% in Hampshire County)

3,875

residents 65 or older (10% of Amherst Town)

4

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Amherst Town ZIP codes in their service area

393 Amherst Town residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (10%; 15% in Hampshire County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

216 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (5.7%).

Medicare lists 4 home health agencies serving Amherst Town ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Amherst Town compared with Hampshire County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Amherst Town	Hampshire County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	10%	15%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.7%	5.9%	7.5%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.4%	4.5%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	10%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	15%	7.4%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$97,722	$67,196	—

Older residents in towns around Amherst Town

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Northampton, MA	8.9 mi	6,331	16%
Easthampton, MA	11 mi	3,843	19%
Holyoke, MA	13 mi	7,606	33%
Chicopee, MA	13 mi	10,770	25%
Ware, MA	15 mi	1,106	20%
Palmer Town, MA	16 mi	2,587	19%

Home health agencies serving Amherst Town

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Vna & Hospice Of Cooley Dickinson	Northampton, MA	6.9 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(413) 584-1060
Holyoke Visiting Nurse Assoc	Holyoke, MA	13 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(413) 887-5543
Encompass Health Home Health	Ludlow, MA	13 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(413) 610-2324
Excel Home Care Services Inc	Wilbraham, MA	17 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy	(413) 583-2005

Nursing homes near Amherst Town

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Center For Extended Care At Amherst	Amherst, MA	1.4 mi	1 of 5	134	(413) 256-8181
Hadley Pointe Nursing Rehab & Care	Hadley, MA	2.2 mi	1 of 5	154	(413) 584-5057
Care One At Northampton	Northampton, MA	8.0 mi	4 of 5	125	(413) 586-3150

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

What it covers

What a caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s can help with

Medication reminders on the schedule the doctor set
Help walking, turning and getting up safely
Dressing and buttons when hands are stiff or shaky
Meals prepared the way the care team advises

Cost

What Parkinson’s care costs in Amherst Town

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $8,144 monthly median income of Amherst Town households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. 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 caregiver experienced with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 1.1 million people in the U.S., and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Its Helpline, 1-800-473-4636, answers questions from people with Parkinson’s and their families.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone with Parkinson’s? What helped most? How do you keep medication reminders exactly on time? How do you help someone who freezes while walking? More in our parkinson’s care guide.

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

Questions

Parkinson’s Care in Amherst Town: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Amherst Town?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 21% of the $8,144 monthly median income of Amherst Town households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What should a Parkinson’s caregiver know?

Look for someone who has helped people with stiffness, slowness or tremor, keeps a strict routine, and knows safe transfers. Ask for a reference from a family of someone with Parkinson’s.

More near Amherst Town

More senior care near Amherst Town

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Amherst Town

More for Amherst Town 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.

In-Home Parkinson’s Care in Amherst Town, MA