Stroke Recovery Care in Melrose, MA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Melrose, MA: the local picture

0.3 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Melrose)

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (16% in Middlesex County)

4.9%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.5% in Middlesex County)

29

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Melrose: Melrosewakefield Healthcare in Melrose (0.3 mi); Winchester Hospital in Winchester (4.3 mi); Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge (6.4 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

293 Melrose residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.9%; 6.5% in Middlesex County), and 1,035 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Melrose compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Melrose	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.9%	6.5%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	4.3%	6.7%	7.5%
Residents 65 or older	21%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	28%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	10%	10%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$59,929	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Melrose

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Malden, MA	1.8 mi	8,581	10%
Stoneham, MA	2.3 mi	4,755	4.0%
Saugus, MA	2.5 mi	6,337	7.9%
Wakefield, MA	3.4 mi	5,268	6.1%
Medford, MA	3.4 mi	9,028	7.4%
Everett, MA	3.4 mi	5,660	6.1%

Hospitals near Melrose

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Melrosewakefield Healthcare	Melrose, MA	0.3 mi	3 of 5	(781) 979-3000
Winchester Hospital	Winchester, MA	4.3 mi	3 of 5	(781) 729-9000
Mount Auburn Hospital	Cambridge, MA	6.4 mi	4 of 5	(617) 492-3500
Massachusetts General Hospital	Boston, MA	6.6 mi	5 of 5	(617) 726-2000

Home health agencies serving Melrose

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health Care	Wakefield, MA	3.2 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	26 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(978) 904-1454
All Care Vna-Greater Lynn Inc	Lynn, MA	5.7 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(781) 598-2454
Alternative Home Health Care, LLC	Methuen, MA	20 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 657-7444
Visiting Nurse And Community Care	Arlington, MA	5.5 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(781) 396-2633

Straight-line miles from the center of Melrose. 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 Melrose

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 34% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose 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 Melrose: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Melrose?

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 34% of the $4,994 monthly median income of Melrose 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 Melrose

More senior care near Melrose

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Melrose

More for Melrose 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 Melrose, MA