In-Home Personal Care in Gulf Shores, AL

Local figures

Personal Care in Gulf Shores, AL: the local picture

5.1%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.2% in Baldwin County)

18%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20% in Baldwin County)

560

residents 85 or older (3.4% of all residents)

9

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

About 218 Gulf Shores residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.1%; 6.2% in Baldwin County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

771 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

560 of the 4,249 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Gulf Shores compared with Baldwin County and Alabama

Census figure	Gulf Shores	Baldwin County	Alabama
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.1%	6.2%	7.9%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	18%	20%	25%
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	1.9%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	32%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	25%	26%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.7%	7.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$75,547	$60,574	—

Older residents in towns around Gulf Shores

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Bon Secour, AL	3.1 mi	415	7.2%
Orange Beach, AL	6.5 mi	1,996	3.9%
Foley, AL	8.5 mi	7,753	6.1%
Robertsdale, AL	19 mi	1,230	14%
Fairhope, AL	20 mi	6,294	6.6%
Pensacola Station, FL	24 mi	4	0.0%

Home health agencies with aides serving Gulf Shores

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Foley, AL	8.6 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(251) 621-4431
Saad Healthcare	Mobile, AL	38 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(251) 343-9600
Centerwell Home Health	Foley, AL	8.6 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(251) 943-3002
Amedisys Home Health Of Foley	Foley, AL	8.6 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 763-6382
Thomas Home Health	Fairhope, AL	19 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(251) 990-9200
Enhabit Home Health	Hoover, AL	219 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(205) 824-2680

Straight-line miles from the center of Gulf Shores. 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 Gulf Shores

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $6,296 monthly median income of Gulf Shores households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Gulf Shores: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Gulf Shores?

At the Alabama median aide wage of $13.39 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,160 a month in wages, which is 18% of the $6,296 monthly median income of Gulf Shores households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Alabama has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

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 Gulf Shores

More senior care near Gulf Shores

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gulf Shores

More for Gulf Shores 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.