In-Home Personal Care in Los Alamos, NM

Local figures

Personal Care in Los Alamos, NM: the local picture

4.7%

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

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18% in Los Alamos County)

397

residents 85 or older (3.0% of all residents)

4

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

About 108 Los Alamos residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.7%; 4.5% in Los Alamos County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

388 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

397 of the 2,323 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Los Alamos compared with Los Alamos County and New Mexico

Census figure	Los Alamos	Los Alamos County	New Mexico
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.7%	4.5%	8.0%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	18%	23%
Residents 85 or older	3.0%	2.7%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	29%	38%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	21%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.9%	3.1%	13%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$140,750	$137,143	—

Older residents in towns around Los Alamos

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
White Rock, NM	7.5 mi	1,233	4.1%
La Mesilla, NM	13 mi	661	7.9%
Española, NM	14 mi	1,894	12%
Agua Fria, NM	22 mi	334	6.9%
Santa Fe, NM	24 mi	23,296	4.3%
La Cienega, NM	24 mi	597	0.0%

Home health agencies with aides serving Los Alamos

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ambercare Home Health	Belen, NM	89 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(505) 861-0060
Presbyterian Home Healthcare Of Northern NM	Santa Fe, NM	30 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(505) 988-2211
Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc.	Los Alamos, NM	2.3 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(505) 662-2525
La Vita Bella Home Health, LLC	Rio Rancho, NM	50 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(505) 814-5386

Straight-line miles from the center of Los Alamos. 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 Los Alamos

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 10% of the $11,729 monthly median income of Los Alamos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Los Alamos: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Los Alamos?

At the New Mexico median aide wage of $13.71 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,188 a month in wages, which is 10% of the $11,729 monthly median income of Los Alamos households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Mexico's minimum wage is $12.00 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 Los Alamos

More senior care near Los Alamos

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Los Alamos

More for Los Alamos 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.