Personal Care in Bristol, VA: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Bristol, VA: the local picture

12%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing

27%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs

513

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

12

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

About 483 Bristol residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (12%). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

1,049 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (27%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

513 of the 3,986 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Bristol compared with Virginia

Census figure	Bristol	Virginia
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	12%	6.7%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	27%	19%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,192	—

Older residents in towns around Bristol

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Bristol, TN	5.2 mi	5,391	7.3%
Blountville, TN	11 mi	702	4.0%
Abingdon, VA	12 mi	2,046	9.5%
Bloomingdale, TN	20 mi	2,040	13%
Elizabethton, TN	20 mi	2,950	12%
Lebanon, VA	20 mi	1,014	13%

Home health agencies with aides serving Bristol

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ballad Health Homecare - Abingdon	Abingdon, VA	9.2 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 525-1227
Ballad Health Homecare - Norton	Norton, VA	34 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 973-9481
Ballad Health Homecare	Johnson City, TN	25 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(423) 431-6146
Adoration Home Health	Wise, VA	35 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 523-4915
Centerwell Home Health	Abingdon, VA	9.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 623-0665
Amedisys Home Health Care	Abingdon, VA	9.2 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 619-2532

Straight-line miles from the center of Bristol. 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 Bristol

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 31% of the $4,016 monthly median income of Bristol 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 Bristol: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Bristol?

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 31% of the $4,016 monthly median income of Bristol 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 Bristol

More senior care near Bristol

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Bristol

More for Bristol 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 Bristol, VA