Stroke Recovery Care in Waltham, MA: Help at Home

Local figures

Stroke Recovery Support in Waltham, MA: the local picture

4.1 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Newton)

18%

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

8.4%

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

43

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

Hospitals with an emergency department near Waltham: Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton (4.1 mi); Boston Medical Center-Brighton in Brighton (5.2 mi); Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge (6.0 mi). With stroke signs, call 911 rather than driving.

837 Waltham residents 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.4%; 6.5% in Middlesex County), and 1,821 have serious difficulty walking: the two kinds of help most often needed in the weeks after a stroke.

Waltham compared with Middlesex County and Massachusetts

Census figure	Waltham	Middlesex County	Massachusetts
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.4%	6.5%	7.2%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	18%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty remembering	7.9%	6.7%	7.5%
Residents 65 or older	16%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	28%	29%
Households with no vehicle	8.6%	10%	12%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,556	$78,342	—

Older residents in towns around Waltham

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Belmont, MA	3.2 mi	5,235	5.5%
Watertown, MA	3.5 mi	6,506	11%
Lexington, MA	3.9 mi	7,430	4.5%
Newton, MA	4.3 mi	17,046	7.1%
Arlington, MA	4.5 mi	8,030	5.3%
Wellesley, MA	6.1 mi	4,691	5.6%

Hospitals near Waltham

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Newton-Wellesley Hospital	Newton, MA	4.1 mi	5 of 5	(617) 243-6000
Boston Medical Center-Brighton	Brighton, MA	5.2 mi	3 of 5	(617) 789-3000
Mount Auburn Hospital	Cambridge, MA	6.0 mi	4 of 5	(617) 492-3500
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Needham	Needham, MA	6.5 mi	5 of 5	(781) 453-3002

Home health agencies serving Waltham

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Central Home Health Care, Inc	Needham, MA	6.5 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(617) 559-0200
Elara Caring	Braintree, MA	18 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(617) 969-7517
Suburban Home Health Care, Inc	Boston, MA	8.3 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(617) 264-7100
All Care Vna-Greater Lynn Inc	Lynn, MA	16 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	24 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 Waltham. 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 Waltham

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 35% of the $4,880 monthly median income of Waltham 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 Waltham: common questions

How much does stroke recovery support cost in Waltham?

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 35% of the $4,880 monthly median income of Waltham 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 Waltham

More senior care near Waltham

Stroke Recovery Support in nearby cities

Other care in Waltham

More for Waltham 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 Waltham, MA