Personal Care in Gulfport, FL: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Gulfport, FL: the local picture

5.0%

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

14%

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

476

residents 85 or older (4.1% of all residents)

48

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

About 216 Gulfport residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.0%; 6.2% in Pinellas County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

598 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (14%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

476 of the 4,423 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Gulfport compared with Pinellas County and Florida

Census figure	Gulfport	Pinellas County	Florida
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.0%	6.2%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	14%	19%	20%
Residents 85 or older	4.1%	3.5%	2.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability	25%	31%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	32%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$55,956	$54,353	—

Older residents in towns around Gulfport

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
South Pasadena, FL	1.8 mi	3,517	5.7%
St. Pete Beach, FL	2.7 mi	3,948	2.2%
Treasure Island, FL	3.8 mi	2,844	5.2%
St. Petersburg, FL	4.2 mi	55,401	4.9%
Kenneth City, FL	4.8 mi	1,745	9.8%
Lealman, FL	5.3 mi	4,458	12%

Home health agencies with aides serving Gulfport

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Southeast Homecare	Saint Petersburg, FL	9.8 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(727) 546-8900
Bon Secours Home Care By Compassus	Saint Petersburg, FL	9.8 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(727) 577-7990
Sarasota Home Health Care Agency LLC	Sarasota, FL	26 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(941) 306-4347
Gulf Breeze Home Health Inc	Saint Petersburg, FL	4.7 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(727) 623-0394
Prohealth Home Health Services Inc	Saint Petersburg, FL	4.7 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(727) 202-6820
Enhabit Home Health	Clearwater, FL	10 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(727) 532-9900

Straight-line miles from the center of Gulfport. 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 Gulfport

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,663 monthly median income of Gulfport households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 take care of a family member in Florida: SMMC LTC and the PDO.

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 Gulfport: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Gulfport?

At the Florida median aide wage of $16.25 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,408 a month in wages, which is 30% of the $4,663 monthly median income of Gulfport households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Florida's minimum wage rose to $15.00 an hour on September 30, 2026, under Article X, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution.

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 Gulfport

More senior care near Gulfport

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gulfport

More for Gulfport 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 Gulfport, FL