In-Home Personal Care in Dover, DE
Hands-on help with bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming, at home and on the person’s own schedule. Post what you need in Dover for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.
Personal Care in Dover, DE: the local picture
About 584 Dover residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.8%; 6.9% in Kent County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.
2,024 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (31%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.
1,018 of the 6,984 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.
Dover compared with Kent County and Delaware
| Census figure | Dover | Kent County | Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing | 8.8% | 6.9% | 5.9% |
| Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking | 31% | 25% | 19% |
| Residents 85 or older | 2.6% | 1.9% | 2.0% |
| Residents 65+ with a disability | 44% | 37% | 30% |
| Residents 65+ in households who live alone | 36% | 27% | 25% |
| Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.) | 14% | 8.6% | 7.6% |
| Median income, households headed by someone 65+ | $46,310 | $58,403 | — |
Older residents in towns around Dover
| Town | Distance | Residents 65+ | Self-care difficulty (65+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Acres, DE | 3.1 mi | 928 | 4.1% |
| Dover Base Housing, DE | 3.7 mi | 69 | 0.0% |
| Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE | 4.3 mi | 555 | 7.9% |
| Camden, DE | 4.6 mi | 925 | 7.7% |
| Riverview, DE | 9.0 mi | 612 | 1.1% |
| Clayton, DE | 9.8 mi | 400 | 17% |
Home health agencies with aides serving Dover
| Agency | Office | Distance | CMS quality stars | Services listed | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amedisys Delaware, LLC | Dover, DE | 4.1 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (302) 678-4764 |
| Aveanna Home Healthcare | Milford, DE | 17 mi | 4.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (302) 514-9597 |
| Bayada Home Health Care At Bayhealth | Dover, DE | 1.4 mi | 4 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (302) 744-7300 |
| Christianacare Homehealth | Camden, DE | 5.8 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (302) 698-4300 |
| Christianacare Homehealth | Wilmington, DE | 44 mi | 3.5 of 5 | nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides | (302) 327-5200 |
| Vicdania Health Services LLC | Dover, DE | 4.1 mi | 1 of 5 | nursing, home health aides | (302) 724-5954 |
Straight-line miles from the center of Dover. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.
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
What personal care costs in Dover
At the Delaware median aide wage of $16.50 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,430 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,859 monthly median income of Dover households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Delaware'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.
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.
Personal Care in Dover: common questions
How much does personal care cost in Dover?
At the Delaware median aide wage of $16.50 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,430 a month in wages, which is 37% of the $3,859 monthly median income of Dover households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Delaware'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 senior care near Dover
Personal Care in nearby cities
- Personal Care in Highland Acres, DE
- Personal Care in Dover Base Housing, DE
- Personal Care in Rising Sun-Lebanon, DE
- Personal Care in Camden, DE
- Personal Care in Riverview, DE
- Personal Care in Clayton, DE
- Personal Care in Smyrna, DE
- Personal Care in Harrington, DE
- Personal Care in Milford, DE
- Personal Care in Townsend, DE
- Personal Care in Greensboro, MD
- Personal Care in Middletown, DE
- Personal Care in Bridgeton, NJ
- Personal Care in Denton, MD
- Personal Care in Salem, NJ
- Personal Care in Laurel Lake, NJ
Other care in Dover
- Companion Care in Dover
- Dementia Care in Dover
- Respite Care in Dover
- Live-In Caregivers in Dover
- Post-Surgery Care in Dover
- Senior Transportation in Dover
- Home Health Aides in Dover
- Nursing Assistants in Dover
- Overnight Caregivers in Dover
- 24-Hour Home Care in Dover
- Mobility Assistance in Dover
- Parkinson’s Care in Dover
- Stroke Recovery Support in Dover
- Disability Care for Adults in Dover
- Hospice Support in Dover
- Senior Meal Preparation in Dover
- Senior Housekeeping in Dover
- Medication Reminders in Dover
- Veterans’ Home Care in Dover
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.
Find personal care in Dover
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