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

Local figures

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

19%

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

5.8%

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

4,135

residents 65 or older (20% of Gardner)

24

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

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

222 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (5.8%).

Medicare lists 24 home health agencies serving Gardner ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Gardner compared with Worcester County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Gardner	Worcester County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	19%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.8%	6.9%	7.5%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	7.3%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	20%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	29%
Households with no vehicle	11%	8.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,743	$61,599	—

Older residents in towns around Gardner

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Baldwinville, MA	4.8 mi	375	31%
Winchendon, MA	7.2 mi	672	38%
Fitchburg, MA	8.9 mi	5,985	26%
Leominster, MA	12 mi	8,479	23%
Athol, MA	12 mi	1,317	27%
Orange, MA	15 mi	568	34%

Home health agencies serving Gardner

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	57 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	0.7 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	13 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	43 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 332-5015
Better Care Home Health And Hospice, Inc.	Leominster, MA	13 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 537-2273
Vna Care Network	Worcester, MA	21 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 728-1862

Nursing homes near Gardner

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Wachusett Manor	Gardner, MA	1.1 mi	3 of 5	96	(978) 632-5477
Gardner Rehabilitation And Nursing Center	Gardner, MA	1.2 mi	2 of 5	124	(978) 632-8776
Alliance Health At Baldwinville	Baldwinville, MA	4.1 mi	4 of 5	94	(978) 939-2196

Straight-line miles from the center of Gardner. 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 Gardner

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 45% of the $3,812 monthly median income of Gardner 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 Gardner: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Gardner?

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 45% of the $3,812 monthly median income of Gardner 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 Gardner

More senior care near Gardner

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gardner

More for Gardner 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 Gardner, MA