Personal Care for Seniors
Hands-on help with bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming, at home and on the person’s own schedule. Post what you need for free and hire a caregiver directly.
What a personal care aide can help with
- Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
- Dressing and undressing
- Toileting and incontinence care
- Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care
- Moving between bed, chair and wheelchair
- Noticing skin changes and telling the family
What to know before hiring a personal care aide
The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.
Personal care is intimate. Agree in advance who does what, how privacy is kept, and whether a male or female caregiver is preferred.
Questions to ask
- How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting?
- Are you trained in safe transfers?
- Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day?
- How would you tell us about a fall or a skin change?
Personal Care by state
Each state page lists its cities. Each city page shows local Census figures and the Medicare-certified providers nearby.
Personal Care: common questions
What is the difference between personal care and companion care?
Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.
Find personal care for someone you love
Posting is free and takes about ten minutes. Caregivers near you can see it as soon as it is live.
Create your free family accountLooking for caregiving work instead? Create a free caregiver profile.
