In-Home Personal Care in Big Stone Gap, VA

Local figures

Personal Care in Big Stone Gap, VA: the local picture

16%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (12% in Wise County)

48%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (35% in Wise County)

80

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

11

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Big Stone Gap ZIP codes in their service area

About 122 Big Stone Gap residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (16%; 12% in Wise County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

368 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (48%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

80 of the 924 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Big Stone Gap compared with Wise County and Virginia

Census figure	Big Stone Gap	Wise County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	16%	12%	6.7%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	48%	35%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	54%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	30%	29%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	16%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$50,795	$35,825	—

Older residents in towns around Big Stone Gap

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Norton, VA	9.6 mi	761	6.9%
Wise, VA	13 mi	514	25%
Mount Carmel, TN	21 mi	1,272	7.5%
Church Hill, TN	24 mi	1,706	5.1%
Bloomingdale, TN	24 mi	2,040	13%
Kingsport, TN	27 mi	13,132	10%

Home health agencies with aides serving Big Stone Gap

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ballad Health Homecare - Norton	Norton, VA	9.8 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 973-9481
Ballad Health Homecare - Abingdon	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 525-1227
Adoration Home Health	Wise, VA	13 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 523-4915
Amedisys Home Health Care	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 619-2532
Centerwell Home Health	Abingdon, VA	44 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 623-0665
Home Nursing Company Inc	Lebanon, VA	38 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 889-4318

Straight-line miles from the center of Big Stone Gap. 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 Big Stone Gap

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Consumer directed care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Big Stone Gap: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Big Stone Gap?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,233 monthly median income of Big Stone Gap households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Big Stone Gap

More senior care near Big Stone Gap

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Big Stone Gap

More for Big Stone Gap 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.