How Much Does 24/7 In-home Care Cost?
Written by:
Jeffrey Grossman
Published:
October 25th, 2021
Financial cost isn’t everything when it comes to caring for a loved one, but knowing the average cost of 24-hour home health care can help you make a more informed decision. As adults age, they can need increasing levels of care and assistance. For some, they may need someone to help with household chores a few hours each week. Others might require a 24-hour caregiver for help during the day and night. Are you an adult child with aging parents who need hands-on care? If you are, then you may also be wondering, “How much does 24/7 in-home care cost?”
In this article, we’re providing you with an elderly care cost comparison. We’ll give you an in-home care cost estimate and answer the question, “Is home health care cheaper than assisted living?” Keep reading to learn about the cost of 24/7 care at home.
Elderly Care Cost Comparison
It’s difficult to make in-home care cost estimates because prices vary depending on:
The agency
Geographical location
Type of care
The distinction between “kinds of care” is important because medical insurance will often cover costs of in-home health care, but usually doesn’t cover anything that’s considered companion care (or “custodial care”). In-home companion care is any form of non-medical assistance, such as grooming, transportation, assistance moving around, housekeeping, companionship, etc.Home health care is medically necessary assistance prescribed by a doctor. This includes such things as in-home physical therapy, assistance with feeding tubes, COPD care, assistance administering medication, etc.
In-Home Care Cost Estimate
The average cost of elder care varies from state to state, ranging from $16/hr in Louisiana to $28/hr in Washington. (For the remainder of this article, we’ll look specifically at Virginia.) In Virginia, the average in-home care cost estimate is $22/hr for companion care and $23/hr for home health care. This means that in Virginia, the average cost of in-home elder care adds up to $180 for an 8-hour day, $880 for a 40 hour week, and $3,520 for a month of care.
But if an aging loved one needs care during the day and night, there are also 24-hour caregiver options available.
In-home elder care solutions in Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, VA and Charleston, SC.
Average Cost of 24-hour Home Health Care vs. 24-hour Companion Care
One major benefit of in-home elder care is that it’s adaptable to the needs of each senior. Since in-home care is scheduled hourly, you only pay for exactly the amount of care you need. But sometimes, an elderly adult needs hands-on assistance all day and night. So, how much does 24/7 in-home care cost?The average cost of 24/7 care at home stacks up to around $15,000 a month, whether that’s 24-hour companion care or home health care.
Most people don’t need 24 hours of care until much later in life, but it’s good to know about it so you can start planning early.
Alternatives to Having a 24 Hour Caregiver
Apart from an in-home 24-hour caregiver, there are other ways to ensure your loved one receives the care they need. The primary alternative to in-home care is residence in an elder care facility. Here are the three major options when it comes to alternative living facilities:
Assisted Living Facilities: These eldercare residences primarily provide assistance with activities of daily life and personal “custodial” care but don’t provide as much skilled nursing care.
Nursing Homes: In addition to providing assistance with activities of daily life, nursing homes provide comprehensive medical support, with nurses on hand 24/7.
Memory Care: People with any form of dementia need special kinds of care, whether it’s provided by an in-home caregiver or through a facility. Most nursing homes (and some assisted living facilities) are equipped for this kind of care, for an extra fee.
And, here’s a quick cost breakdown for each of these eldercare residences:
Assisted Living Facility
$4,850
Assisted Living with Memory Care
$5,850 - $8,850
Nursing Home
$7,665 - $8,821
In assisted living facilities, “memory care” for those with dementia incurs an additional monthly fee of $1,000-$4,000. However, memory care for those with dementia does not affect the hourly rate of in-home care or nursing home care. After all these elderly care cost comparisons, you may still be wondering, “Which is cheaper, home care or an assisted living facility?”
Is Home Health Care Cheaper than Assisted Living?
When it comes to end-of-life care, finances are only one of many factors to consider. But from a purely financial perspective, here is an elderly care cost comparison:
Up to 55 hours a week, in-home care costs less than assisted living
Up to 100 hours a week, in-home care costs less than living in a nursing home
If 24/7 nursing care is needed (168 hours a week) then living in a residential facility will probably be less expensive
Though in-home care isn’t necessarily always the cheapest option, it’s often the best. With in-home care, your loved one will receive focused one-on-one attention from a trained caregiver—something most facilities can’t provide. The bottom line is that 24-hour nursing care has a cost no matter which route you take, so let’s consider how to pay for senior care costs.
Ways to Pay 24 Hour Nursing Care Costs
There are some ways that individuals can get assistance paying for home care costs. Five of the most useful resources are:
Medicare
Medicaid
The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit for Veterans
Long-term Care (LTC) Insurance
Life Insurance Settlement
Here’s a look at these resources in more detail.
1. Medicare
Medicare is the health insurance provided by the government to all seniors age 65+. Medicare covers most home health care services, including:
Nursing care
Physical and occupational therapy
Medication administration.
However, to be covered, the home health care must be considered, “intermittent care”, which is defined as “less than 7 days each week or less than 8 hours each day.”Medicaid doesn’t necessarily cover in-home custodial care and has limits to its assisted living facility coverage. So, you’ll want to look into your specific plan to see what it covers.
2. Medicaid
Medicaid is a form of government assistance that’s only available to those who qualify via low income or disability. Like Medicare, Medicaid covers all short-term medically prescribed care. In some states, there are waivers extending Medicaid benefits to cover non-medical care expenses. Unlike Medicare, Medicaid can help cover residence in a care facility for those who qualify. If you think you might qualify, you should talk to an agent or look up details on the website.
3. The Aid and Attendance (A&A) Benefit for Veterans
A&A provides Veterans with a monthly stipend that can be used to pay for long-term care, including in-home care. However, the veteran is required to show that they need in-home care in order to qualify.
4. Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance
LTC insurance is a form of insurance that specifically covers long-term care services, such as in-home care. Policies must be originated before long-term care commences, so it pays to look into it sooner rather than later.
5. Life Insurance Settlements
Some life insurance policies allow you to claim your settlement before death. If you take your settlement early, it’s often less than the full policy amount but can be a reasonable means of paying for end-of-life care.Some other helpful resources regarding paying for elder care you can look into are:
Any financial help you can receive will make getting quality care for your loved one that much easier.
Best 24 Hour Caregivers in Virginia
In this article we’ve explored the costs of end-of-life care, seeking to answer the question “is home health care cheaper than assisted living?” Though there’s a lot of variation in cost, up to 100 hours a week of in-home care is often less expensive than living in a nursing home. However, the average cost of 24 hour home health care may be higher than the cost of living in a residential facility. Regardless of which option you choose, 24-hour nursing care can be costly. Some common ways people pay for end of life care include:
Medicare
Medicaid
The VA Bill
Long Term Care Insurance
Life Insurance Settlements
Though this article focuses on the financial element of elder care, money isn’t the only factor to consider. Sometimes, the extra cost of 24/7 care at home is worth the benefits of aging in place and receiving intentional care from a trained caregiver. Are you looking for compassionate, in-home care services in Virginia or South Carolina? Commonwise Home Care is a premier home care agency providing high-quality care and memory care to aging adults. We offer a comprehensive list of home care services, including:
24-hour caregivers
Memory (dementia) care
In-home physical therapy
Speak to a Care Advisor today to hear about how in-home assistance could be a perfect fit for you and your family.
In-home elder care solutions in Charlottesville, Richmond, Williamsburg, VA and Charleston, SC.