In-Home Care for Veterans in Central City, NE

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Central City, NE: the local picture

69

veterans aged 65 or older (11% of residents 65+)

641

residents 65 or older (21% of Central City)

45%

of residents 65+ report a disability (38% in Merrick County)

33%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (30% in Merrick County)

About 69 Central City residents aged 65 or older are veterans (11% of that age group; 18% in Merrick County), out of 176 veterans of all adult ages in town.

45% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (38% in Merrick County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Central City compared with Merrick County and Nebraska

Census figure	Central City	Merrick County	Nebraska
Residents 65+ who are veterans	11%	18%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	38%	32%
Residents 65 or older	21%	22%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	30%	31%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	18%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	2.4%	10%	9.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,306	$54,511	—

Older residents in towns around Central City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Aurora, NE	17 mi	976	24%
Grand Island, NE	23 mi	7,806	15%
St. Paul, NE	25 mi	697	13%
York, NE	27 mi	1,607	12%
Columbus, NE	40 mi	4,324	14%
Hastings, NE	41 mi	4,646	16%

Hospitals near Central City

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Merrick Medical Center	Central City, NE	0.6 mi	not rated	(308) 946-3015
Memorial Hospital	Aurora, NE	18 mi	not rated	(402) 694-3171
Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center	Osceola, NE	24 mi	not rated	(402) 747-2031

Straight-line miles from the center of Central City. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in Central City

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,776 monthly median income of Central City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska'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 a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Central City: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Central City?

At the Nebraska median aide wage of $17.38 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,506 a month in wages, which is 26% of the $5,776 monthly median income of Central City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Nebraska's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Central City

More senior care near Central City

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Central City

More for Central City 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.