How home care is priced
Non-medical home care is almost always charged hourly. Your total depends on:
- Hours per visit
- Visits per week
- Whether care is days, evenings, overnight, or weekends
- How much hands on help is needed
- Whether two people are needed for safe transfers
- Holidays
We give your family a clear rate and a clear schedule before care begins, so you know the weekly number. Ask any provider to put that in writing.
What private pay means
We are a private pay agency. Families pay directly rather than billing insurance or Medicare. Some families use other sources, listed below, to help cover the cost.
Ways families pay for home care
Personal funds
Savings, pensions, Social Security, retirement accounts, and sometimes help pooled between adult children.
Long term care insurance
If your parent bought a policy years ago, it may cover in-home care. Dig out the policy and read what it says about home care, waiting periods, daily limits, and what documentation is required. Many families find a policy they forgot about.
Veterans benefits
Some wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA benefits that can help with home care costs. Start with the VA or an accredited veterans service officer, and be careful of anyone who charges to file for you.
Selling or renting property, or a reverse mortgage
Some families use home equity. Talk to a financial advisor first, because these decisions are hard to undo.
Medicaid programs
Illinois has programs that help lower income older adults get in-home services. Eligibility is based on income, assets, and care needs, and providers must be enrolled in the program. Start with your local Area Agency on Aging to learn what is available. We are a private pay provider, so ask us and we will tell you straight whether we fit your situation.
What Medicare does not cover
Medicare does not pay for ongoing non-medical home care, which is help with bathing, meals, housekeeping, and companionship. Medicare may cover short term skilled home health, like nursing or therapy, when a doctor orders it after a qualifying event. Those are different services from different providers.
Ways to keep costs manageable
- Start with the hours that solve the real problems, not a full schedule
- Focus care on the hardest part of the day, like mornings or late afternoon
- Combine tasks into one visit: personal care, a meal, and housekeeping together
- Share the load with family for some days
- Use respite care on a set schedule instead of waiting for burnout
- Review the schedule every few months and adjust
Questions to ask any home care provider
- What is the hourly rate, and is there a minimum per visit?
- Are evenings, weekends, and holidays charged differently?
- How and when do you bill?
- What happens if our caregiver is sick?
- Will we have the same caregiver?
- How do you screen caregivers?
- Are you licensed and insured? Ask for documentation.
Ask us all of these. We will answer plainly.