Personal Care in Bolivar, MO: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Bolivar, MO: the local picture

6.9%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.3% in Polk County)

26%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20% in Polk County)

502

residents 85 or older (4.5% of all residents)

8

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

About 148 Bolivar residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.9%; 5.3% in Polk County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

560 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (26%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

502 of the 2,283 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Bolivar compared with Polk County and Missouri

Census figure	Bolivar	Polk County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.9%	5.3%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	26%	20%	21%
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	2.5%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with a disability	44%	38%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	49%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	16%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$38,158	$40,120	—

Older residents in towns around Bolivar

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Buffalo, MO	18 mi	454	14%
Willard, MO	22 mi	667	1.4%
Strafford, MO	29 mi	281	6.4%
Springfield, MO	29 mi	27,514	6.9%
Republic, MO	30 mi	3,124	7.9%
Marshfield, MO	33 mi	1,492	3.4%

Home health agencies with aides serving Bolivar

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Rolla, MO	94 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(573) 341-3456
Amedisys Home Health Of Missouri	Springfield, MO	32 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(417) 877-7474
Phoenix Home Care	Independence, MO	113 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(816) 373-7442
Vitalcaring Group	Springfield, MO	32 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(417) 883-1648
Integrity Home Care + Hospice	Springfield, MO	32 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(417) 889-9773
Citizens Memorial Home Health	Bolivar, MO	0.3 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(417) 326-3585

Straight-line miles from the center of Bolivar. 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 Bolivar

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,180 monthly median income of Bolivar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Bolivar: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Bolivar?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 43% of the $3,180 monthly median income of Bolivar households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Bolivar

More senior care near Bolivar

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bolivar

More for Bolivar 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 Bolivar, MO