Parkinson's Care in Portage, MI: In-Home Caregivers

Local figures

Parkinson’s Care in Portage, MI: the local picture

16%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Kalamazoo County)

4.2%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty remembering, concentrating or deciding (6.7% in Kalamazoo County)

8,857

residents 65 or older (18% of Portage)

13

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

1,361 Portage residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16%; 16% in Kalamazoo County). The Census does not count Parkinson’s itself; these figures describe the kinds of help people locally need.

369 have serious difficulty remembering or concentrating (4.2%).

Medicare lists 13 home health agencies serving Portage ZIP codes; when a doctor orders it, they provide skilled nursing and therapy at home.

Portage compared with Kalamazoo County and Michigan

Census figure	Portage	Kalamazoo County	Michigan
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	16%	16%	19%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	4.2%	6.7%	7.7%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.8%	4.8%	6.4%
Residents 65 or older	18%	16%	19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	31%	29%	29%
Households with no vehicle	5.0%	7.3%	7.0%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,925	$58,046	—

Older residents in towns around Portage

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Kalamazoo, MI	5.4 mi	8,027	18%
Vicksburg, MI	5.8 mi	345	17%
Westwood, MI	7.6 mi	1,802	11%
Eastwood, MI	7.7 mi	909	20%
Comstock Northwest, MI	9.4 mi	1,228	13%
Mattawan, MI	11 mi	376	19%

Home health agencies serving Portage

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Portage, MI	1.4 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(269) 381-5620
Care One Home Health Services	Grand Rapids, MI	51 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy	(616) 719-4440
Seasons Home Health Care	Portage, MI	1.4 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(269) 684-0004
Elara Caring	Niles, MI	42 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(269) 663-2201
Elara Caring	Jackson, MI	62 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(517) 780-9500
Compassus Home Health	Portage, MI	1.4 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(269) 459-3700

Nursing homes near Portage

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Medilodge Of Portage	Portage, MI	0.5 mi	3 of 5	117	(269) 323-7748
Harold And Grace Upjohn Community Care Center	Kalamazoo, MI	4.9 mi	1 of 5	84	(269) 381-4290
Medilodge Of Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo, MI	6.3 mi	2 of 5	39	(269) 375-2020

Straight-line miles from the center of Portage. 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 Portage

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Portage: common questions

How much does Parkinson’s care cost in Portage?

At the Michigan median aide wage of $16.83 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,459 a month in wages, which is 29% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Portage households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Michigan's minimum wage is $13.73 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026), rising to $15.00 on January 1, 2027.

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 Portage

More senior care near Portage

Parkinson’s Care in nearby cities

Other care in Portage

More for Portage 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 Portage, MI