Home care provides non-medical support in the home for older adults who need help with daily tasks, personal care, supervision, or companionship.
Quick Facts
- Provided in the home
- Usually billed by the hour
- Best for people who need part-time help or supervision
- Can include personal care and companionship
- Does not replace 24-hour skilled medical care
What Is Home Care?
Home care is non-medical support provided in a person’s home to help with everyday living. Services are usually scheduled by the hour and may include help with bathing, dressing, meals, mobility, medication reminders, housekeeping, and companionship.
This is not the same as Home Health Care that is covered by Medicare. Home Health Care that is covered by Medicare is medical care and therapy provided by nurses and therapists for needs that require clinical care.
Non-Medical Home Care can be a good option for someone who wants to remain at home but needs extra help with everyday activities to stay safe and manage daily routines.
Home care services often include:
- Bathing, grooming, and dressing
- Toileting and incontinence support
- Meal preparation and feeding assistance
- Medication reminders
- Mobility assistance and walking support
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Transportation or escort to appointments
- Companionship and social interaction
- Safety supervision for confusion or fall risk
Home care may be a good fit for an older adult who:
- Is safest remaining at home
- Needs help with a few daily activities
- Does not yet need 24-hour supervision in a community
- Wants one-on-one support at home
- Has family involved but needs additional help
- Needs short-term help after illness, rehab, or hospitalization
Home care often works best when needs are limited to part of the day. As care needs increase, costs and scheduling demands can rise quickly.
When Families May Need to Consider Other Options
Home care is not always the best long-term solution. Families may need to consider other care options when a person:
- Needs extensive hands-on help throughout the day
- Wanders or attempts to leave due to confusion
- Requires two-person assist or complex transfers
- Has advanced dementia that requires 24/7 care
- Needs care that becomes too expensive to provide hourly at home
- Is no longer safe even with scheduled visits
When care needs increase, it may be helpful to compare the cost and safety of home care with assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing.
Home Care Costs
Home care is typically billed by the hour, with common rates ranging from $32 to $37 per hour. Total monthly cost depends on how many hours of care are needed and the level of support required.
- Many agencies also have:
- Minimum hours per visit
- Weekly minimum scheduling requirements
- Higher costs for evenings, overnight care, or more intensive support
Because care is billed hourly, home care can work well for limited support but may not be affordable when many hours are needed each day. (learn more link to Home Care Costs Page)
Benefits and Limitations of Home Care
Benefits
- Remain in familiar surroundings
- One-on-one support
- Flexible scheduling
- Can supplement family caregiving
- Helpful for light to moderate assistance
Limitations
- Cost rises as hours increase
- May not cover all hours needed
- Caregiver consistency can vary
- Home may still require safety modifications
- May not be enough for advanced care needs
Home Care Compared With Other Options
Home care is one of several care options families may consider. The right choice depends on the person’s care needs, safety, budget, and how much support is available from family.
A person who only needs a few hours of help each week may do well with home care. Someone needing daily hands-on help, memory support, or overnight supervision may be better served in assisted living, memory care, or skilled nursing.
Not Sure Whether Home Care Is a Fit?
Choosing care is easier when you start with the person’s actual needs. We help families look at safety, daily assistance needs, supervision concerns, and budget so they can understand whether home care still makes sense or whether another option should be considered.
Compare Care Options
Learn About Assisted Living
Learn About Memory Care
Home Care FAQ:
What is the difference between home care and home health care?
Home care and home health care are often confused, but they serve different purposes.
Home care refers to non-medical assistance provided in the home. Caregivers help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, companionship, light housekeeping, and supervision.
Home health care refers to medical services provided in the home by licensed medical professionals, usually under a physician’s order. These services may include:
- Skilled nursing care
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Wound care
- Medication management
Home health services are typically short-term and related to recovery after illness, injury, or hospitalization, while home care may be ongoing and focused on daily living support.
Does insurance pay for home care?
No, most health insurance plans and Medicare do not cover ongoing non-medical home care.
Medicare and many insurance plans may cover home health care, which includes skilled medical services such as nursing or therapy, but these services are usually temporary and require a physician’s order.
Payment for home care typically comes from:
- Private pay (most common)
- Long-term care insurance (if a policy exists)
- Veterans benefits in some situations
- Limited Medicaid programs in certain circumstances
Can home care help someone with dementia?
Home care can assist individuals with early or moderate dementia, particularly when they need supervision, reminders, or help with daily tasks.
Caregivers may help with:
- Maintaining routines
- Meal preparation
- Personal care
- Safety monitoring
- Companionship
However, as dementia progresses, people often require more continuous supervision and specialized support. When wandering, nighttime confusion, or significant behavioral changes occur, a secured environment such as memory care may provide safer support.
How do I know if my parent needs help at home?
Families often begin asking this question when daily challenges begin to increase.
Signs that safety may be becoming a concern include:
- Frequent falls or mobility problems
- Difficulty managing medications
- Poor nutrition or missed meals
- Confusion about time or place
- Wandering or leaving the home unsafely
- Increasing difficulty with bathing, dressing, or toileting
- Care needs that exceed what family members can manage
If several of these concerns are present, it may be helpful to review the person’s care needs and consider whether additional support at home, or another care setting, would provide a safer and more sustainable solution.
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