In-Home Personal Care in North Merritt Island, FL

Local figures

Personal Care in North Merritt Island, FL: the local picture

14%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.8% in Brevard County)

25%

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

404

residents 85 or older (4.5% of all residents)

35

Medicare-certified home health agencies list North Merritt Island ZIP codes in their service area

About 362 North Merritt Island residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (14%; 6.8% in Brevard County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

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

404 of the 2,520 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

North Merritt Island compared with Brevard County and Florida

Census figure	North Merritt Island	Brevard County	Florida
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	6.8%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	21%	20%
Residents 85 or older	4.5%	3.0%	2.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability	35%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	24%	26%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.0%	8.1%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$79,667	$58,980	—

Older residents in towns around North Merritt Island

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Sharpes, FL	3.2 mi	607	4.6%
Port St. John, FL	6.0 mi	4,405	14%
Cocoa, FL	6.6 mi	4,259	7.3%
Cocoa West, FL	7.9 mi	859	21%
Cape Canaveral, FL	8.1 mi	3,590	3.7%
Rockledge, FL	9.8 mi	7,233	5.7%

Home health agencies with aides serving North Merritt Island

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Trilogy Home Healthcare	Orlando, FL	35 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(407) 259-2272
Nhc Homecare	Merritt Island, FL	5.1 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(321) 459-9111
Centerwell Home Health	Melbourne, FL	18 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(321) 255-9995
HCA Florida Healthcare At Home	Melbourne, FL	18 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(321) 984-0223
Mederi Caretenders	Viera, FL	18 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(325) 253-2200
Centerwell Home Health	Palm Bay, FL	31 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—

Straight-line miles from the center of North Merritt Island. 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 North Merritt Island

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 21% of the $6,639 monthly median income of North Merritt Island 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 North Merritt Island: common questions

How much does personal care cost in North Merritt Island?

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 21% of the $6,639 monthly median income of North Merritt Island 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 North Merritt Island

More senior care near North Merritt Island

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in North Merritt Island

More for North Merritt Island 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.