In-Home Personal Care in Smith Mills, MA

Local figures

Personal Care in Smith Mills, MA: the local picture

14%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.2% in Bristol County)

18%

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

142

residents 85 or older (3.1% of all residents)

31

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

About 132 Smith Mills residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (14%; 8.2% in Bristol County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

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

142 of the 976 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Smith Mills compared with Bristol County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Smith Mills	Bristol County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	14%	8.2%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	18%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	3.1%	2.1%	2.2%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	33%	30%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	30%	29%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	11%	11%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,775	$54,856	—

Older residents in towns around Smith Mills

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
New Bedford, MA	3.3 mi	15,512	10%
Bliss Corner, MA	4.1 mi	1,499	9.0%
Acushnet Center, MA	5.4 mi	816	11%
North Westport, MA	6.1 mi	861	5.8%
Fall River, MA	7.3 mi	15,169	12%
Mattapoisett Center, MA	10 mi	719	1.9%

Home health agencies with aides serving Smith Mills

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	39 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Amedisys Home Health Care	Wakefield, MA	59 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 685-2818
Community Nurse, Inc	Fairhaven, MA	5.6 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 992-6278
Guardian Home Health Care, LLC	W Bridgewater, MA	26 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, home health aides	(508) 588-5811
All At Home Health Care LLC	Brookline, MA	47 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 782-9900
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.	North Dartmouth, MA	0.9 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(508) 994-1003

Straight-line miles from the center of Smith Mills. 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 Smith Mills

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,731 monthly median income of Smith Mills households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Smith Mills: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Smith Mills?

At the Massachusetts median aide wage of $19.67 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,705 a month in wages, which is 46% of the $3,731 monthly median income of Smith Mills households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Massachusetts's minimum wage is $15.00 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 Smith Mills

More senior care near Smith Mills

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Smith Mills

More for Smith Mills 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.