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

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in New Bedford, MA: the local picture

23%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20% in Bristol County)

9.4%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (7.7% in Bristol County)

15,512

residents 65 or older (15% of New Bedford)

32

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

3,440 New Bedford residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23%; 20% in Bristol County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

1,391 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (9.4%).

Medicare lists 32 home health agencies serving New Bedford ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

New Bedford compared with Bristol County and Massachusetts

Census figure	New Bedford	Bristol County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	9.4%	7.7%	7.5%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	10%	8.2%	7.2%
Residents 65 or older	15%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	41%	30%	29%
Households with no vehicle	17%	9.5%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,345	$54,856	—

Older residents in towns around New Bedford

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Acushnet Center, MA	2.3 mi	816	16%
Smith Mills, MA	3.3 mi	976	18%
Bliss Corner, MA	3.9 mi	1,499	14%
Mattapoisett Center, MA	7.2 mi	719	9.6%
North Westport, MA	9.0 mi	861	22%
Fall River, MA	9.2 mi	15,169	26%

Home health agencies serving New Bedford

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	38 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Centerwell Home Health	Fall River, MA	10 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(508) 672-0675
Pivot Point Homecare Services LLC	Westborough, MA	55 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 873-1358
Amedisys Home Health Care	Wakefield, MA	58 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 685-2818
Community Nurse, Inc	Fairhaven, MA	2.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 992-6278
Guardian Home Health Care, LLC	W Bridgewater, MA	26 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(508) 588-5811

Nursing homes near New Bedford

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sacred Heart Nursing Home	New Bedford, MA	0.9 mi	5 of 5	217	(508) 996-6751
Hathaway Manor Extended Care	New Bedford, MA	1.6 mi	2 of 5	142	(508) 996-6763
Alden Court Nursing Care & Rehabilitation Center	Fairhaven, MA	1.8 mi	4 of 5	142	(508) 991-8600

Straight-line miles from the center of New Bedford. 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 New Bedford

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 52% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 New Bedford: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in New Bedford?

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 52% of the $3,279 monthly median income of New Bedford 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 New Bedford

More senior care near New Bedford

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in New Bedford

More for New Bedford 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 New Bedford, MA