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Since Medicare and conventional health insurance limit home care coverage to short-term rehabilitative visits, it is important to understand what private-pay home care is likely to cost when considering long-term care options.
Estimating Costs
The cost of private-pay home care varies dramatically depending on the level of care provided and the length of time services are needed. Often, seniors will use home care services for a week or two at a time, typically following a hospitalization or during an illness. In other cases, ongoing services are required, ranging from intermittent to continuous care. To avoid paying for time they neither want nor need, consumers should look for a provider that will readily adjust the service schedule in response to ever-changing circumstances. The following descriptions will help you estimate the number of hours per week you may need, whether on a temporary or long-term basis.
Intermittent care (less than 30 hours per week) is appropriate for seniors who need help with housekeeping, shopping, getting to medical appointments, and some personal care. They may be isolated and somewhat forgetful, but do not need daily care.
Daily care (40-60 hours per week) is required for seniors who need help dressing, bathing, preparing meals, and managing medications. They may be quite confused, but usually sleep well and can be left alone for brief periods.
Continuous care (at least 168 hours per week) is needed for seniors who cannot be left alone. They often need physical assistance and/or reassurance several times during the night necessitating awake overnight staffing.
Whether intermittent, daily, or continuous care is needed, costs can be reduced when family caregivers cover some of the hours themselves, working in partnership with an agency that offers flexible scheduling, 24-hour back-up, and on-call support. For seniors needing continuous care, live-in services (or a combination of live-in and hourly services) may be a less expensive choice than purchasing all services on an hourly basis.
Meeting Out-of-Pocket Expenses
A variety of resources can help you cover the cost of private-pay home care. These include long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, and life insurance benefits. To learn more, see Home Care Financing Options.
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