Personal Care in Bessemer, AL: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Bessemer, AL: the local picture

9.1%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.5% in Jefferson County)

35%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25% in Jefferson County)

823

residents 85 or older (3.2% of all residents)

16

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

About 482 Bessemer residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (9.1%; 8.5% in Jefferson County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

1,838 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (35%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

823 of the 5,601 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Bessemer compared with Jefferson County and Alabama

Census figure	Bessemer	Jefferson County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	9.1%	8.5%	7.9%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	35%	25%	25%
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	52%	38%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	31%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	13%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,074	$51,066	—

Older residents in towns around Bessemer

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Hueytown, AL	3.7 mi	3,098	13%
Brighton, AL	5.0 mi	563	12%
McCalla, AL	5.7 mi	2,688	4.0%
Midfield, AL	6.5 mi	628	14%
Fairfield, AL	7.8 mi	1,751	7.5%
Helena, AL	8.1 mi	2,740	3.6%

Home health agencies with aides serving Bessemer

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Hoover, AL	8.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 739-7800
Centerwell Home Health	Birmingham, AL	12 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 836-0777
Centerwell Home Health	Clanton, AL	42 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 755-9926
Amedisys Home Health Lakeshore Of Birmingham	Homewood, AL	12 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 868-0147
Compassus Home Health	Birmingham, AL	14 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 313-2800
Amedisys Home Health Of Walker	Jasper, AL	36 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 295-2434

Straight-line miles from the center of Bessemer. 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 Bessemer

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $2,923 monthly median income of Bessemer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Bessemer: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Bessemer?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 40% of the $2,923 monthly median income of Bessemer households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Bessemer

More senior care near Bessemer

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bessemer

More for Bessemer 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 Personal Care in Bessemer, AL