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

Local figures

Personal Care in Kathleen, FL: the local picture

4.2%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.5% in Polk County)

25%

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

57

residents 85 or older (0.8% of all residents)

18

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

About 42 Kathleen residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.2%; 6.5% in Polk County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

248 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

57 of the 992 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Kathleen compared with Polk County and Florida

Census figure	Kathleen	Polk County	Florida
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.2%	6.5%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	21%	20%
Residents 85 or older	0.8%	2.1%	2.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	32%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	16%	24%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	25%	12%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$37,009	$50,939	—

Older residents in towns around Kathleen

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Lakeland, FL	6.8 mi	25,793	7.0%
Plant City, FL	8.6 mi	5,870	10%
Combee Settlement, FL	9.2 mi	679	8.7%
Crystal Lake, FL	10 mi	630	2.1%
Zephyrhills South, FL	11 mi	2,348	4.3%
Medulla, FL	12 mi	1,674	5.0%

Home health agencies with aides serving Kathleen

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	Lakeland, FL	14 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(863) 648-9118
Medical Services Of America Home Health	Tampa, FL	24 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(813) 626-9888
Origin Home Health Care	Apollo Beach, FL	33 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(813) 641-0500
Aveanna Home Health	Bradenton, FL	54 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—
Concierge Home Care	Lakeland, FL	13 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(863) 644-5991
Amedisys Home Health	Winter Haven, FL	19 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—

Straight-line miles from the center of Kathleen. 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 Kathleen

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 46% of the $3,084 monthly median income of Kathleen 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 Kathleen: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Kathleen?

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 46% of the $3,084 monthly median income of Kathleen 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 Kathleen

More senior care near Kathleen

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Kathleen

More for Kathleen 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 Kathleen, FL