In-Home Personal Care in Bellingham, MA

Local figures

Personal Care in Bellingham, MA: the local picture

3.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.5% in Norfolk County)

31%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17% in Norfolk County)

193

residents 85 or older (3.6% of all residents)

19

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

About 36 Bellingham residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (3.6%; 6.5% in Norfolk County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

303 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (31%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

193 of the 992 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Bellingham compared with Norfolk County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Bellingham	Norfolk County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	3.6%	6.5%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	31%	17%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.6%	2.4%	2.2%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	27%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	29%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.9%	9.2%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$41,000	$78,127	—

Older residents in towns around Bellingham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Franklin Town, MA	3.5 mi	4,872	4.4%
Hopedale, MA	3.9 mi	915	5.0%
Milford, MA	4.4 mi	5,086	5.8%
Woonsocket, RI	6.5 mi	6,387	7.4%
Cumberland Hill, RI	8.3 mi	1,309	1.7%
Millis-Clicquot, MA	8.3 mi	963	1.2%

Home health agencies with aides serving Bellingham

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	26 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Preferred Transitions Home Health Care Inc	Milford, MA	4.7 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 352-6640
Aveanna Home Health	Worcester, MA	22 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 213-1236
Natick Walpole Visiting Nurse Association	Walpole, MA	12 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 668-1066
Caretenders	Needham Heights, MA	19 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 332-5015

Straight-line miles from the center of Bellingham. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

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

Cost

What personal care costs in Bellingham

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 50% of the $3,417 monthly median income of Bellingham 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 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.

Questions worth asking: 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? More in our personal care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Personal Care in Bellingham: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Bellingham?

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 50% of the $3,417 monthly median income of Bellingham 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 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.

More near Bellingham

More senior care near Bellingham

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bellingham

More for Bellingham 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.