Stroke Recovery Care in Northampton, MA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Northampton, MA: the local picture

3.5 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Northampton)

16%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (15% in Hampshire County)

5.6%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.5% in Hampshire County)

17

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Northampton: Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc,The in Northampton (3.5 mi); Holyoke Medical Center in Holyoke (9.0 mi); Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield (14 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

337 Northampton residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.6%; 4.5% in Hampshire County), and 964 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Northampton compared with Hampshire County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Northampton	Hampshire County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.6%	4.5%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	16%	15%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	6.8%	5.9%	7.5%
Residents 65 or older	20%	19%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	10%	7.4%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,004	$67,196	—

Older residents in towns around Northampton

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Easthampton, MA	4.3 mi	3,843	2.1%
Holyoke, MA	8.1 mi	7,606	17%
Amherst Town, MA	8.9 mi	3,875	6.4%
Chicopee, MA	12 mi	10,770	10%
Westfield, MA	14 mi	7,534	7.8%
West Springfield Town, MA	14 mi	5,038	11%

Hospitals near Northampton

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc,The	Northampton, MA	3.5 mi	2 of 5	(413) 582-2000
Holyoke Medical Center	Holyoke, MA	9.0 mi	4 of 5	(413) 534-2500
Baystate Noble Hospital	Westfield, MA	14 mi	2 of 5	(413) 568-2811
Mercy Medical Ctr	Springfield, MA	15 mi	2 of 5	(413) 748-9000

Home health agencies serving Northampton

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	86 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Amedisys Home Health Care	Agawam, MA	18 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(413) 789-0027
Vna & Hospice Of Cooley Dickinson	Northampton, MA	2.2 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(413) 584-1060
Caretenders	Holyoke, MA	9.0 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(413) 592-1762
Holyoke Visiting Nurse Assoc	Holyoke, MA	9.0 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(413) 887-5543

Straight-line miles from the center of Northampton. 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 Northampton

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 32% of the $5,250 monthly median income of Northampton 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 Northampton: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Northampton?

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 32% of the $5,250 monthly median income of Northampton 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 Northampton

More senior care near Northampton

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Northampton

More for Northampton 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 Northampton, MA