In-Home Personal Care in Smithville, MO

Local figures

Personal Care in Smithville, MO: the local picture

7.0%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.2% in Clay County)

19%

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

145

residents 85 or older (1.4% of all residents)

23

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

About 114 Smithville residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.0%; 6.2% in Clay County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

319 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

145 of the 1,646 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Smithville compared with Clay County and Missouri

Census figure	Smithville	Clay County	Missouri
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	7.0%	6.2%	6.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	19%	20%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.4%	1.4%	2.0%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	33%	34%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	26%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.0%	9.2%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,333	$57,117	—

Older residents in towns around Smithville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Platte City, MO	10 mi	824	1.4%
Kearney, MO	12 mi	1,967	3.2%
Gladstone, MO	13 mi	5,586	5.4%
Pleasant Valley, MO	13 mi	479	7.4%
Liberty, MO	13 mi	4,881	4.6%
Parkville, MO	14 mi	1,088	1.6%

Home health agencies with aides serving Smithville

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Saint Lukes Home Care	Kansas City, MO	24 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(816) 756-1160
Mosaic Life Care Home Health	Saint Joseph, MO	28 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(816) 271-7593
Centerwell Home Health	Overland Park, KS	33 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(913) 906-0522
Elara Caring	Jefferson City, MO	137 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(800) 690-1753
Phoenix Home Care	Independence, MO	25 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(816) 373-7442
Adventhealth Home Health	Shawnee Mission, KS	29 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(913) 676-2163

Straight-line miles from the center of Smithville. 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 Smithville

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,944 monthly median income of Smithville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Consumer Directed Services in Missouri: how a relative becomes a paid caregiver.

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 Smithville: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Smithville?

At the Missouri median aide wage of $15.90 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,378 a month in wages, which is 28% of the $4,944 monthly median income of Smithville households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Missouri'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 Smithville

More senior care near Smithville

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Smithville

More for Smithville 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.