When considering home care services for your senior loved ones, you'll examine many factors. Chief among them is cost.
As you conduct research into senior home care options, the prices might initially sound expensive. But, consider this: Home care services typically cost considerably less than the cost of a nursing home, and may even cost less than an assisted living facility.
For many seniors and their family members, the comfort and peace of mind that home care offers is well worth the investment.
The cost for senior home care services varies widely according to many different factors, including:
Senior Care Cost Factors
Location
One of the most important factors that impacts the price of home care services is location. Not surprisingly, rates are typically higher in major metropolitan areas and first-tier suburbs, as well as in certain areas of the country.
According to insurance company Genworth Financial, some of the lowest home care rates in the United States are found in the South. For example, the annual median cost for a home health aide in Alabama, Mississippi or West Virginia is $38,896, based on 44 hours per week of service (an average of about six hours per day). Compare that with a median cost of $66,352 in Minnesota, $59,488 in California and $59,588 in Maine.
Level of Service
The cost of senior home care services is slightly lower for a personal aide than for a home health aide. Personal aides perform a wide variety of tasks, from preparing meals and doing light housekeeping to helping with bathing, dressing and using the toilet. They also provide transportation to the doctor, the hairdresser and other common destinations.
Home health aides also provide these services, but are qualified to perform certain light medical duties, such as taking vital signs and changing bandages. Live-in home care can provide round-the-clock services for patients who could endanger themselves when left alone (including Alzheimer's or dementia patients).
Hours of Care
Understandably, home care costs will be lower for patients who need fewer hours of care. Specific rates vary depending on where you live, from lows around $16 per hour to highs around $30 per hour. Some home care agencies have minimum hour requirements. Those minimums can be as low as three hours per week or as high as 20 hours. At Interim HealthCare, we do not have a minimum.
Insurance or Medicare
Medicare may cover some home care costs for a limited period of time, but only if it’s needed in conjunction with skilled nursing care. Some health insurance and long-term care insurance policies may also cover some home care costs, but again, many policies focus on skilled nursing care rather than personal care. Check with your insurance provider for the specific benefits applicable for you or your loved one.
Gain peace of mind while providing your senior loved ones with the highest level of care.
At Interim HealthCare, we offer a range of flexible options to help keep your loved ones happy and healthy. Contact your nearest Interim HealthCare location to learn more.