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

Local figures

Personal Care in Galax, VA: the local picture

5.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing

24%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs

212

residents 85 or older (3.2% of all residents)

8

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

About 70 Galax residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.6%). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

302 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (24%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

212 of the 1,418 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Galax compared with Virginia

Census figure	Galax	Virginia
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.6%	6.7%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	24%	19%
Residents 85 or older	3.2%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	47%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	22%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$29,440	—

Older residents in towns around Galax

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Hillsville, VA	12 mi	630	22%
Mount Airy, NC	20 mi	2,720	13%
Wytheville, VA	22 mi	1,952	6.6%
Pulaski, VA	28 mi	1,600	15%
Elkin, NC	28 mi	902	2.7%
Jonesville, NC	30 mi	729	16%

Home health agencies with aides serving Galax

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health Care	Roanoke, VA	73 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(540) 265-5980
Medi Home Health Agency	Pulaski, VA	28 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(540) 382-5637
Interim Healthcare	Dublin, VA	33 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 200-2606
Liberty Home Care V LLC	Stuart, VA	37 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 694-4424
Carilion Home Care Services Tazewell	Tazewell, VA	45 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 988-8714
Access Home Health Care And Rehabilitation	Galax, VA	0.6 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 266-3149

Straight-line miles from the center of Galax. 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 Galax

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 51% of the $2,453 monthly median income of Galax 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 Galax: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Galax?

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 51% of the $2,453 monthly median income of Galax 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 Galax

More senior care near Galax

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Galax

More for Galax 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 Galax, VA