Stroke Recovery Care in Wakefield, MA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Wakefield, MA: the local picture

3.2 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Melrose)

20%

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

6.1%

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

30

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Wakefield: Melrosewakefield Healthcare in Melrose (3.2 mi); Winchester Hospital in Winchester (5.4 mi); Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington in Burlington (7.0 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

308 Wakefield residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.1%; 6.5% in Middlesex County), and 1,014 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Wakefield compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Wakefield	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.1%	6.5%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	6.0%	6.7%	7.5%
Residents 65 or older	19%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	27%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	10%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$81,979	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Wakefield

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Lynnfield, MA	2.4 mi	2,338	5.4%
Stoneham, MA	2.7 mi	4,755	4.0%
Reading, MA	3.0 mi	5,289	6.5%
Melrose, MA	3.4 mi	6,106	4.9%
Saugus, MA	3.6 mi	6,337	7.9%
Woburn, MA	4.7 mi	6,588	7.1%

Hospitals near Wakefield

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Melrosewakefield Healthcare	Melrose, MA	3.2 mi	3 of 5	(781) 979-3000
Winchester Hospital	Winchester, MA	5.4 mi	3 of 5	(781) 729-9000
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Burlington	Burlington, MA	7.0 mi	4 of 5	(781) 744-5100
North Shore Medical Center -	Salem, MA	8.4 mi	5 of 5	(978) 741-1215

Home health agencies serving Wakefield

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Patient Care Solutions, LLC	Danvers, MA	7.6 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(781) 595-0311
Amedisys Home Health Care	Wakefield, MA	0.3 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	23 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	6.7 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	17 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(978) 657-7444

Straight-line miles from the center of Wakefield. 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 Wakefield

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 25% of the $6,832 monthly median income of Wakefield 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 Wakefield: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Wakefield?

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 25% of the $6,832 monthly median income of Wakefield 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 Wakefield

More senior care near Wakefield

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Wakefield

More for Wakefield 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 Wakefield, MA