Bell County, KY
Get paid to care for your family member in Bell County, Kentucky
About 4,600 people in Bell County are 65 or older — 20% of everyone who lives here. That tracks with Kentucky as a whole. Roughly 431 are 85 or older, the age when daily help usually starts. In a rural county, an agency aide may be a long drive away — when one is available at all. That is exactly why the state lets you be the paid caregiver instead.
Who needs care in Bell
- People 65 and older
- 4,600
- People 85 and older
- 431
- Median age
- 41.5
- Rank in Kentucky
- 47th
20% of Bell residents
the age daily help usually starts
close to the national average
of 120 counties, by residents 65+
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Population Estimates (Vintage 2024). Bell County is a rural county (USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Code 7). Kentucky as a whole is 18% aged 65 or older.
What Kentucky pays family caregivers
$29.04/hr
Your exact pay is set by the program and your care plan. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Source: Kentucky Medicaid program data · Updated September 2026
Kentucky's programs at a glance
- Participant Directed Services (PDS)
- HCB Waiver
- Michelle P. Waiver
- Spouse paid?
- Yes
- Parent paid for a child?
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- Waitlists can be long — apply early.
These rules are set by the state, so they are the same in every county. Read the full Kentucky guide →
Towns and cities in Bell County
Kentucky sets eligibility, not your town — so a family in Middlesborough and a family at the far edge of the county apply the same way. The largest communities in Bell County:
- Middlesborough8,899
- Pineville1,566
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Subcounty Population Estimates.
How families in Bell apply
You do not need a county office to start. Families in Bell County start with Kentucky's program:
Apply via kynect.ky.gov, phone 855-306-8959, or in person; PDS enrollment goes through the case manager or the regional Area Development District/AAA.
Or skip the phone tag — our free 2-minute check tells you which Kentucky program fits your family, then we help with the forms.
See if you qualify →Bell questions, answered honestly
Can I get paid to care for a family member in Bell County?
Yes. Kentucky runs real Medicaid programs — like Participant Directed Services (PDS) — that pay family caregivers, and they cover families in Bell County. We help you enroll, and applying costs you nothing.
How much do family caregivers earn in Bell County?
Reported figures in Kentucky are around $29.04/hr, but rates vary — the program sets your exact pay. We'll tell you your real number before you enroll.
Where do families in Bell County apply?
Families in Bell County start with the state, not the county. Apply via kynect.ky.gov, phone 855-306-8959, or in person; PDS enrollment goes through the case manager or the regional Area Development District/AAA.
Can I get paid to care for my spouse in Bell County?
Yes — a spouse can be paid here. The fine print for Kentucky: yes — friends and relatives including adult children and spouses can be hired under PDS
How many people in Bell County might need this?
4,600 residents of Bell County are 65 or older and about 431 are 85 or older, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimates. Most of them are cared for at home by a relative rather than in a facility. Kentucky's programs exist to pay for exactly that care.
Which towns in Bell do you cover?
All of Bell County — including Middlesborough and Pineville. Eligibility is set by Kentucky, not by your town, so where you live inside the county does not change whether you qualify.
Program facts come from Kentucky's published Medicaid program rules · Population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau · Updated September 2026. Rules change — always confirm with the program.
More Kentucky counties
The programs are the same statewide — pick your county:
Find out in 2 minutes
Answer 5 easy questions. See your programs and pay before you share any contact info.