How much does Senior Home Care cost?

According to the Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey, Senior Home Care costs an average of $4,290 a month, while home health care costs $4,385 a month. These averages are based on a client receiving care 44 hours a week, which comes out to roughly $24 an hour for personal care assistance and $25 an hour for home health care. Note that this is the national average, and costs can vary widely between different states and even different areas within the same state. Even different providers in the same city may charge different prices. So if keeping costs low is your top priority, be sure to compare the costs of several different providers to find the best value.

Is financial assistance available for Senior Home Care?

Yes, financial assistance is available for Senior Home Care. Seniors who meet the eligibility criteria may be able to receive assistance from Medicaid or a Medicaid waiver program for home health care. Though the rules surrounding what services are covered and at what amount vary between different states. Medicare does cover home health care for qualifying seniors. But personal care assistance is only covered when services are received in tandem with home health care.

To learn more about the available financial assistance options for Senior Home Care, visit the “How Can I Pay for Senior Home Care?” section.

Is the Senior Home Care less expensive than the assisted living?

When broken down hour-by-hour, Senior Home Care is actually less expensive than assisted living. The total monthly cost will depend on the client’s level of need and how often they utilize Senior Home Care services. According to Genworth Financial, Senior Home Care costs an average of approximately $24 an hour. So, if the client only needs Senior Home Care 20 hours a week, they will spend an average of $1,950 a month. This is far less expensive than assisted living, which costs an average of $4,051 a month.

But, residents of assisted living communities have access to 24-hour assistance. If a Senior Home Care client were to utilize their services 24 hours a day, the cost soars to $16,380 a month. For someone who needs the safety and comfort of having assistance available around-the-clock, the assisted living will be the more economical choice.

Are Senior Home Care and home health care the same?

No, Senior Home Care and home health care are not the same. Senior Home Care refers to personal care assistance, which includes help with the activities of daily living, transportation, and companion care. Home health care involves medical care including first-aid, medication administration, and therapy services.

Home health care providers must undergo specialized training and obtain certification to perform medical services, while Senior Home Care providers do not. Because of the increased scope of care, home health care is typically more expensive than Senior Home Care.

Is Senior Home Care covered by insurance?

Yes, in some cases Senior Home Care is covered by insurance. Qualifying individuals may be able to use Medicaid and Medicare to cover some or all of the costs of their Senior Home Care or home health care. Other seniors may have private, long-term care insurance policies that cover Senior Home Care. Though this varies depending on the policy, Long-term care, including Senior Home Care, is typically not covered by standard health insurance.