Stroke Recovery Care in Gardner, MA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Gardner, MA: the local picture

0.7 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Gardner)

19%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in Worcester County)

6.3%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (7.3% in Worcester County)

24

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Gardner: Heywood Hospital - in Gardner (0.7 mi); Athol Memorial Hospital in Athol (12 mi); Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals in Leominster (13 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

242 Gardner residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.3%; 7.3% in Worcester County), and 719 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Gardner compared with Worcester County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Gardner	Worcester County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.3%	7.3%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	19%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	5.8%	6.9%	7.5%
Residents 65 or older	20%	17%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	27%	29%
Households with no vehicle	11%	8.3%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$45,743	$61,599	—

Older residents in towns around Gardner

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Baldwinville, MA	4.8 mi	375	15%
Winchendon, MA	7.2 mi	672	18%
Fitchburg, MA	8.9 mi	5,985	8.6%
Leominster, MA	12 mi	8,479	9.7%
Athol, MA	12 mi	1,317	12%
Orange, MA	15 mi	568	8.3%

Hospitals near Gardner

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Heywood Hospital -	Gardner, MA	0.7 mi	2 of 5	(978) 632-3420
Athol Memorial Hospital	Athol, MA	12 mi	2 of 5	(978) 249-3511
Umass Memorial Healthalliance Hospitals	Leominster, MA	13 mi	3 of 5	(978) 466-2000
Umass Memorial Medical Center/University Campus	Worcester, MA	16 mi	3 of 5	(508) 334-1000

Home health agencies serving Gardner

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	57 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Care Central Vna & Hospice Inc	Gardner, MA	0.7 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 632-1230
Health Alliance Home Health And Hospice	Leominster, MA	13 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 708-6513
Caretenders	Needham Heights, MA	43 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 332-5015
Better Care Home Health And Hospice, Inc.	Leominster, MA	13 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 537-2273

Straight-line miles from the center of Gardner. 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 Gardner

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 45% of the $3,812 monthly median income of Gardner 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 Gardner: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Gardner?

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 45% of the $3,812 monthly median income of Gardner 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 Gardner

More senior care near Gardner

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Gardner

More for Gardner 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 Gardner, MA