Veterans' Home Care in Gary, IN: Caregivers for Veterans

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Gary, IN: the local picture

1,895

veterans aged 65 or older (15% of residents 65+)

12,880

residents 65 or older (19% of Gary)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (32% in Lake County)

39%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Lake County)

About 1,895 Gary residents aged 65 or older are veterans (15% of that age group; 13% in Lake County), out of 3,520 veterans of all adult ages in town.

37% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (32% in Lake County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Gary compared with Lake County and Indiana

Census figure	Gary	Lake County	Indiana
Residents 65+ who are veterans	15%	13%	14%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	32%	33%
Residents 65 or older	19%	18%	17%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	39%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	24%	21%	21%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	11%	9.1%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,274	$53,273	—

Older residents in towns around Gary

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Ross, IN	4.1 mi	1,051	14%
Lake Station, IN	5.0 mi	1,648	14%
Griffith, IN	5.9 mi	2,974	15%
Hobart, IN	6.5 mi	4,478	12%
Highland, IN	6.5 mi	5,096	12%
East Chicago, IN	6.8 mi	3,676	11%

Hospitals near Gary

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Methodist Hospitals Inc	Gary, IN	0.8 mi	1 of 5	(219) 886-4000
St Mary Medical Center Inc	Hobart, IN	6.6 mi	3 of 5	(219) 947-6196
Regional Mental Health Center	Merrillville, IN	6.6 mi	not rated	(219) 769-4005

Straight-line miles from the center of Gary. 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 Gary

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,523 monthly median income of Gary households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Gary: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Gary?

At the Indiana median aide wage of $16.86 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,461 a month in wages, which is 41% of the $3,523 monthly median income of Gary households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Indiana's minimum wage is $7.25 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 Gary

More senior care near Gary

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Gary

More for Gary 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.

In-Home Care for Veterans in Gary, IN