Parkinson's Care in Fitzgerald, GA: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Fitzgerald, GA: the local picture

21%

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

5.0%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (5.6% in Ben Hill County)

1,526

residents 65 or older (17% of Fitzgerald)

4

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

289 Fitzgerald residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21%; 19% in Ben Hill County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

70 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (5.0%).

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

Fitzgerald compared with Ben Hill County and Georgia

Census figure	Fitzgerald	Ben Hill County	Georgia
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	19%	22%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.0%	5.6%	8.5%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.8%	6.3%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	17%	18%	15%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	32%	26%
Households with no vehicle	9.7%	6.3%	5.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$28,519	$33,208	—

Older residents in towns around Fitzgerald

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Ocilla, GA	7.9 mi	499	20%
Abbeville, GA	20 mi	349	30%
Tifton, GA	23 mi	2,845	21%
Ashburn, GA	24 mi	955	32%
Douglas, GA	27 mi	1,671	26%
McRae-Helena, GA	32 mi	1,115	33%

Home health agencies serving Fitzgerald

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health	Tifton, GA	23 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(229) 386-0665
Pruitthealth @ Home - Vidalia	Vidalia, GA	60 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(912) 538-8000
Caresouth, An Affiliate Of Crisp Reg Hospital	Cordele, GA	35 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(229) 271-4690
Pruitthealth @ Home - Valdosta	Valdosta, GA	57 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(229) 247-4665

Nursing homes near Fitzgerald

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Pruitthealth - Fitzgerald	Fitzgerald, GA	1.1 mi	4 of 5	78	(229) 423-4361
Harmony Health And Rehabilitation	Fitzgerald, GA	1.2 mi	1 of 5	167	(229) 423-5621
Palemon Gaskins Mem Nsg Home	Ocilla, GA	7.6 mi	2 of 5	30	(229) 468-3890

Straight-line miles from the center of Fitzgerald. 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 Fitzgerald

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Fitzgerald: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Fitzgerald?

At the Georgia median aide wage of $14.07 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,219 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,377 monthly median income of Fitzgerald households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Georgia's state rate is lower than the federal one, so employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act pay at least the federal $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Fitzgerald

More senior care near Fitzgerald

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Fitzgerald

More for Fitzgerald 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 Fitzgerald, GA