Personal Care in Portland, OR: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Portland, OR: the local picture

8.5%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.5% in Multnomah County)

20%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20% in Multnomah County)

9,732

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

25

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

About 7,688 Portland residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.5%; 8.5% in Multnomah County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

18,214 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

9,732 of the 92,970 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Portland compared with Multnomah County and Oregon

Census figure	Portland	Multnomah County	Oregon
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.5%	8.5%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	20%	20%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	34%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	33%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	12%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,808	$64,218	—

Older residents in towns around Portland

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
West Haven-Sylvan, OR	5.8 mi	1,692	7.5%
Raleigh Hills, OR	6.3 mi	1,598	7.2%
Milwaukie, OR	6.5 mi	3,893	8.7%
West Slope, OR	6.6 mi	1,315	9.2%
Cedar Mill, OR	7.3 mi	2,518	3.6%
Vancouver, WA	7.4 mi	32,641	9.4%

Home health agencies with aides serving Portland

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Divine Mercy Home Health, LLC	Beaverton, OR	7.8 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(503) 608-7717
Providence Home Health	Portland, OR	2.5 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(503) 215-4646
Signature Healthcare At Home	Tigard, OR	12 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(503) 783-2470
Amedisys Home Health Care	Salem, OR	44 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(503) 364-9850
Adventist Health Home Care Services	Portland, OR	7.3 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(503) 251-6301
Centerwell Home Health	Vancouver, WA	9.4 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(503) 620-3407

Straight-line miles from the center of Portland. 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 Portland

At the Oregon median aide wage of $21.35 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,850 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $5,317 monthly median income of Portland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oregon's minimum wage is $16.80 in the Portland metro area, $15.55 in the standard state rate, $14.55 in non-urban counties (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 Portland: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Portland?

At the Oregon median aide wage of $21.35 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,850 a month in wages, which is 35% of the $5,317 monthly median income of Portland households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Oregon's minimum wage is $16.80 in the Portland metro area, $15.55 in the standard state rate, $14.55 in non-urban counties (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 Portland

More senior care near Portland

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Portland

More for Portland 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 Portland, OR