Stroke Recovery Care in Andover, MA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Andover, MA: the local picture

4.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Lawrence)

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (18% in Essex County)

11%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.2% in Essex County)

45

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Andover: Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital in Lawrence (4.1 mi); Holy Family Hospital in Methuen (5.4 mi); Lowell General Hospital in Lowell (9.8 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

176 Andover residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (11%; 7.2% in Essex County), and 281 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Andover compared with Essex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Andover	Essex County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	11%	7.2%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	16%	8.5%	7.5%
Residents 65 or older	18%	18%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	29%	29%
Households with no vehicle	12%	9.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$68,274	$66,414	—

Older residents in towns around Andover

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Lawrence, MA	3.2 mi	9,318	21%
Methuen, MA	6.3 mi	9,206	7.8%
Wilmington, MA	6.4 mi	3,647	7.6%
Reading, MA	8.5 mi	5,289	6.5%
Lowell, MA	9.2 mi	14,960	12%
Haverhill, MA	9.2 mi	10,483	9.9%

Hospitals near Andover

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital	Lawrence, MA	4.1 mi	2 of 5	(978) 683-4000
Holy Family Hospital	Methuen, MA	5.4 mi	2 of 5	(978) 687-0156
Lowell General Hospital	Lowell, MA	9.8 mi	2 of 5	(978) 937-6000
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington	Burlington, MA	11 mi	4 of 5	(781) 744-5100

Home health agencies serving Andover

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health Care	Wakefield, MA	11 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 685-2818
Elara Caring	Newburyport, MA	17 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(978) 904-1454
Alternative Home Health Care, LLC	Methuen, MA	5.4 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 657-7444
All Care Vna-Greater Lynn Inc	Lynn, MA	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(781) 598-2454
Tufts Medicine Care At Home	Lowell, MA	8.1 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 552-4000

Straight-line miles from the center of Andover. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for stroke recovery can help with

Help with bathing, dressing and meals
Safe walking and transfers
Rides to rehabilitation and follow-up appointments
Practising the exercises therapists set

Cost

What stroke recovery support costs in Andover

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 30% of the $5,690 monthly median income of Andover 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 caregiver for stroke recovery

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke every year, about 610,000 of them for the first time (CDC). Many go home to recover.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after a stroke? How do you help with one-sided weakness during transfers? Can you drive to rehabilitation appointments? More in our stroke recovery support guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Stroke Recovery Support in Andover: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Andover?

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 30% of the $5,690 monthly median income of Andover 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 does a caregiver do after a stroke?

Helps with personal care, meals and moving safely, takes the person to therapy, helps them practise what therapists set, and keeps the family informed. Medical and therapy decisions stay with the care team.

More near Andover

More senior care near Andover

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Andover

More for Andover 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.

Stroke Recovery Support at Home in Andover, MA