Personal Care in Grafton, ND: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Grafton, ND: the local picture

5.5%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.5% in Walsh County)

21%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Walsh County)

272

residents 85 or older (6.6% of all residents)

2

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

About 45 Grafton residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.5%; 4.5% in Walsh County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

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

272 of the 930 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Grafton compared with Walsh County and North Dakota

Census figure	Grafton	Walsh County	North Dakota
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.5%	4.5%	5.3%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	16%	18%
Residents 85 or older	6.6%	4.3%	2.2%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	31%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	31%	33%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	7.9%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$39,527	$50,794	—

Older residents in towns around Grafton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Grand Forks, ND	37 mi	8,315	5.8%
East Grand Forks, MN	38 mi	1,137	13%
Crookston, MN	58 mi	1,519	5.5%
Thief River Falls, MN	60 mi	1,733	2.5%

Home health agencies with aides serving Grafton

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Altru's Home Health	Grand Forks, ND	39 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(701) 780-5880
Ethos Home Health	Fargo, ND	115 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(701) 356-3803

Straight-line miles from the center of Grafton. 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 Grafton

At the North Dakota median aide wage of $18.96 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,643 a month in wages, which is 50% of the $3,294 monthly median income of Grafton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Dakota's minimum wage is $7.25 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.

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 Grafton: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Grafton?

At the North Dakota median aide wage of $18.96 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,643 a month in wages, which is 50% of the $3,294 monthly median income of Grafton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. North Dakota's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Grafton

More senior care near Grafton

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Grafton

More for Grafton 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 Grafton, ND