Personal Care in Houlton, ME: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Houlton, ME: the local picture

11%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.0% in Aroostook County)

21%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (21% in Aroostook County)

215

residents 85 or older (4.2% of all residents)

5

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

About 118 Houlton residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (11%; 7.0% in Aroostook County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

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

215 of the 1,282 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Houlton compared with Aroostook County and Maine

Census figure	Houlton	Aroostook County	Maine
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	11%	7.0%	4.8%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	21%	21%	17%
Residents 85 or older	4.2%	3.1%	2.3%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	37%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	52%	32%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	13%	9.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$31,324	$38,808	—

Older residents in towns around Houlton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Presque Isle, ME	40 mi	1,971	12%
Caribou, ME	50 mi	2,016	6.8%
Millinocket, ME	52 mi	1,488	6.7%
Lincoln, ME	62 mi	1,033	12%

Home health agencies with aides serving Houlton

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Andwell Health Partners	Lewiston, ME	181 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(207) 777-7740
Valley Home Health Services	Caribou, ME	53 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(207) 492-1149
Madigan Home Health Care, Inc.	Houlton, ME	1.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(207) 532-7480
Community Health & Counseling Services	Bangor, ME	102 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(207) 947-0366
Northern Light Home Care & Hospice	So Portland, ME	209 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 757-3326

Straight-line miles from the center of Houlton. 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 Houlton

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 62% of the $2,610 monthly median income of Houlton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Houlton: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Houlton?

At the Maine median aide wage of $18.55 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,608 a month in wages, which is 62% of the $2,610 monthly median income of Houlton households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Maine's minimum wage is $15.10 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 Houlton

More senior care near Houlton

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Houlton

More for Houlton 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 Houlton, ME