In-Home Personal Care in Swarthmore, PA

Local figures

Personal Care in Swarthmore, PA: the local picture

0.2%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.7% in Delaware County)

6.8%

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

79

residents 85 or older (1.2% of all residents)

12

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

About 2 Swarthmore residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (0.2%; 6.7% in Delaware County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

71 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (6.8%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

79 of the 1,046 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Swarthmore compared with Delaware County and Pennsylvania

Census figure	Swarthmore	Delaware County	Pennsylvania
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	0.2%	6.7%	6.6%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	6.8%	20%	20%
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	2.2%	2.4%
Residents 65+ with a disability	21%	30%	32%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.3%	9.1%	9.9%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,583	$66,651	—

Older residents in towns around Swarthmore

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Folsom, PA	1.3 mi	1,293	3.5%
Morton, PA	1.3 mi	527	7.4%
Woodlyn, PA	1.7 mi	1,620	7.7%
Ridley Park, PA	2.1 mi	1,344	12%
Media, PA	2.4 mi	1,308	2.8%
Prospect Park, PA	2.5 mi	897	9.7%

Home health agencies with aides serving Swarthmore

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Main Line Health Home Care & Hospice - Home Health	Radnor, PA	11 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(888) 533-3999
Mercy Home Health	Newtown, PA	33 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(267) 569-0760
Amedisys Home Health	Lancaster, PA	50 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(717) 291-8396
Premier Home Care Inc	Huntingdon Valley, PA	22 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(215) 969-2225
Residential Home Health Of Carlisle LLC	Havertown, PA	5.6 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(888) 923-5842
Bayada Home Health Care, Inc.	Newtown Square, PA	6.6 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(610) 723-4300

Straight-line miles from the center of Swarthmore. 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 Swarthmore

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,382 monthly median income of Swarthmore households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Swarthmore: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Swarthmore?

At the Pennsylvania median aide wage of $14.14 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,225 a month in wages, which is 23% of the $5,382 monthly median income of Swarthmore households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Swarthmore

More senior care near Swarthmore

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Swarthmore

More for Swarthmore 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.