Personal Care in Elkins, WV: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Elkins, WV: the local picture

4.1%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.0% in Randolph County)

21%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in Randolph County)

159

residents 85 or older (2.3% of all residents)

3

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

About 47 Elkins residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.1%; 5.0% in Randolph County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

237 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

159 of the 1,138 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Elkins compared with Randolph County and West Virginia

Census figure	Elkins	Randolph County	West Virginia
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.1%	5.0%	8.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	19%	25%
Residents 85 or older	2.3%	1.9%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	30%	39%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	30%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	20%	15%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$25,688	$37,321	—

Older residents in towns around Elkins

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Philippi, WV	19 mi	693	14%
Buckhannon, WV	21 mi	717	4.8%
Grafton, WV	30 mi	914	7.9%
Bridgeport, WV	33 mi	2,173	8.0%
Weston, WV	34 mi	706	14%
Clarksburg, WV	36 mi	2,672	8.0%

Home health agencies with aides serving Elkins

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Homeplus	Elkins, WV	0.4 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(304) 636-5776
Wvuhs Home Care	Clarksburg, WV	36 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(681) 342-3252

Straight-line miles from the center of Elkins. 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 Elkins

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 55% of the $2,141 monthly median income of Elkins households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 How to get paid to care for a family member in West Virginia: ADW and Personal Options.

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 Elkins: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Elkins?

At the West Virginia median aide wage of $13.47 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,167 a month in wages, which is 55% of the $2,141 monthly median income of Elkins households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 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 Elkins

More senior care near Elkins

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Elkins

More for Elkins 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 Elkins, WV