Personal Care in Wise, VA: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Wise, VA: the local picture

25%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (12% in Wise County)

34%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (35% in Wise County)

0

residents 85 or older (0.0% of all residents)

11

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

About 131 Wise residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (25%; 12% in Wise County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

173 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (34%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

0 of the 514 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Wise compared with Wise County and Virginia

Census figure	Wise	Wise County	Virginia
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	25%	12%	6.7%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	34%	35%	19%
Residents 85 or older	0.0%	1.6%	1.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	61%	54%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	42%	29%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.7%	16%	8.8%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,306	$35,825	—

Older residents in towns around Wise

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Norton, VA	4.0 mi	761	6.9%
Big Stone Gap, VA	13 mi	924	16%
Bloomingdale, TN	28 mi	2,040	13%
Lebanon, VA	28 mi	1,014	13%
Mount Carmel, TN	29 mi	1,272	7.5%
Kingsport, TN	32 mi	13,132	10%

Home health agencies with aides serving Wise

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Ballad Health Homecare - Norton	Norton, VA	3.6 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 973-9481
Adoration Home Health	Wise, VA	0.8 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 523-4915
Amedisys Home Health Care	Abingdon, VA	37 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 619-2532
Centerwell Home Health	Abingdon, VA	37 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 623-0665
Home Nursing Company Inc	Lebanon, VA	28 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 889-4318
In Home Care Inc	Wise, VA	0.8 mi	2.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(276) 328-9340

Straight-line miles from the center of Wise. 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 Wise

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,692 monthly median income of Wise households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 care in Virginia: how relatives are paid to give care through CCC Plus.

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 Wise: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Wise?

At the Virginia median aide wage of $14.57 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,263 a month in wages, which is 34% of the $3,692 monthly median income of Wise households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Virginia's minimum wage is $12.77 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 Wise

More senior care near Wise

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Wise

More for Wise 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 Wise, VA