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

Local figures

Personal Care in Palatka, FL: the local picture

14%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (9.4% in Putnam County)

32%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25% in Putnam County)

280

residents 85 or older (2.6% of all residents)

19

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

About 234 Palatka residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (14%; 9.4% in Putnam County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

516 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (32%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

280 of the 1,985 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Palatka compared with Putnam County and Florida

Census figure	Palatka	Putnam County	Florida
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	9.4%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	32%	25%	20%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	2.2%	2.6%
Residents 65+ with a disability	40%	38%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	29%	25%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	33%	14%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$26,261	$44,837	—

Older residents in towns around Palatka

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Flagler Estates, FL	13 mi	624	3.7%
Green Cove Springs, FL	24 mi	1,746	10%
St. Augustine Shores, FL	25 mi	3,186	2.7%
World Golf Village, FL	25 mi	5,175	1.7%
St. Augustine South, FL	26 mi	1,269	6.8%
Bunnell, FL	27 mi	1,136	2.9%

Home health agencies with aides serving Palatka

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Aveanna Home Health	Gainesville, FL	44 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 331-3280
Trilogy Home Healthcare	Ocala, FL	47 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 236-6095
HCA Florida Healthcare At Home	Gainesville, FL	43 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 395-6424
Concierge Home Care	The Villages, FL	52 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(352) 435-0101
Brooks Rehabilitation Home Health	Palatka, FL	1.4 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	—

Straight-line miles from the center of Palatka. 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 Palatka

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 64% of the $2,188 monthly median income of Palatka 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 Palatka: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Palatka?

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 64% of the $2,188 monthly median income of Palatka 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 Palatka

More senior care near Palatka

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Palatka

More for Palatka 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 Palatka, FL