In-home care services
Personal care at home for seniors: bathing, dressing and daily help
Personal care is hands-on, non-medical help with the daily routines a person can no longer do safely alone: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and moving around the house. Trained aides provide it at home, on a schedule that fits the person's day.
What personal care includes
Personal care aides help with activities of daily living. The aide works from a written care plan, and the plan should say exactly which tasks are covered.
- Bathing, showering and skin care
- Dressing, grooming, shaving and oral care
- Toileting, incontinence care and changing linens
- Getting in and out of bed, a chair or the car safely
- Walking help and fall-prevention around the home
- Meal preparation and help eating, plus light housekeeping
Signs it may be time
Families often notice a parent wearing the same clothes for days, skipping showers, bruising from falls, or avoiding the bathroom. A personal care aide for a morning or evening routine can keep a person at home for years longer, and keeps the family relationship from turning into a caregiving relationship.
What to ask an agency
Ask how aides are trained in safe transfers and lifting, who supervises them and how often, and what happens when an aide calls out. Ask for the caregiver's background check results policy, and whether a care manager visits the home to write the plan. For people with dementia, ask about specific dementia training, or look at dementia care at home.
What personal care costs
The national median for in-home care is about $35 an hour (CareScout 2025), roughly $3,033 a month for 20 hours a week and $6,067 for 40 hours. Personal care aides are often priced a little above pure companion care in some areas, so ask for the hourly rate for each service. Rates by state are on our cost of care page, and the paying for care guide covers private pay, long-term care insurance, VA benefits and Medicaid waivers.
Find in-home care agencies near you
Enter a city or ZIP code, or browse every state. Each listing shows its public rating and, where the state publishes a roster, the license number and the date we checked it.
Questions about personal care
Do personal care aides give medicine?
In most states a non-medical aide can remind someone to take medicine that is already set out, but cannot administer it. Ask the agency what your state allows.
Can I choose male or female caregivers?
Most agencies will try to match your preference. Say so when you book, especially for bathing and toileting.
How is personal care different from nursing?
A nurse performs clinical tasks ordered by a doctor. A personal care aide helps with daily living and does not provide medical treatment.