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

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Athol, MA: the local picture

27%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in Worcester County)

10%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (6.9% in Worcester County)

1,317

residents 65 or older (15% of Athol)

16

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

355 Athol residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (27%; 19% in Worcester County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

135 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (10%).

Medicare lists 16 home health agencies serving Athol ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Athol compared with Worcester County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Athol	Worcester County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	27%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	10%	6.9%	7.5%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	7.3%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	15%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	27%	29%
Households with no vehicle	15%	8.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,194	$61,599	—

Older residents in towns around Athol

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Orange, MA	3.3 mi	568	34%
Baldwinville, MA	7.7 mi	375	31%
Winchendon, MA	11 mi	672	38%
Gardner, MA	12 mi	4,135	19%
Turners Falls, MA	17 mi	881	17%
Jaffrey, NH	18 mi	338	20%

Home health agencies serving Athol

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	68 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Care Central Vna & Hospice Inc	Gardner, MA	12 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 632-1230
Health Alliance Home Health And Hospice	Leominster, MA	25 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 708-6513
Caretenders	Needham Heights, MA	55 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 332-5015
Complete Vna	Worcester, MA	31 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 244-1530
Encompass Health Home Health	Ludlow, MA	32 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(413) 610-2324

Nursing homes near Athol

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Quabbin Valley Healthcare	Athol, MA	2.4 mi	2 of 5	142	(978) 895-0147
Alliance Health At Baldwinville	Baldwinville, MA	8.7 mi	4 of 5	94	(978) 939-2196
Gardner Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Gardner, MA	13 mi	2 of 5	124	(978) 632-8776

Straight-line miles from the center of Athol. 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 Athol

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 54% of the $3,183 monthly median income of Athol 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 Athol: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Athol?

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 54% of the $3,183 monthly median income of Athol 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 Athol

More senior care near Athol

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Athol

More for Athol 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 Athol, MA