Many seniors want to enjoy their golden years in the comfort of their own homes. For many older adults, independent living can be a great way to maintain autonomy, freedom, and independence. But what’s the actual cost of living at home for seniors? Is the average home care cost more or less expensive than living in an assisted or senior living facility? In this article, we’ll explore in-home care cost per month along with ways to make home care more affordable with GoGo’s comprehensive solutions.
Average home care cost in the U.S.
The average home care cost varies significantly depending on your location, level of care required, licensing requirements, and needed services.
Most home care agencies charge by the hour, although some offer discounted rates for monthly contracts.
According to a study by Genworth, the median in-home care cost per month in the U.S. was $27 an hour in 2021, and the median 24/7 in-home care cost per month was $5,148 based on 44 hours of care per week.
The average home care cost can vary drastically by state. In the most affordable states (like West Virginia and Louisiana), these services cost around $19 an hour, while the in-home care cost per month in the most expensive home care states (like Minnesota and Washington) is closer to $35 per hour.
Non-medical or medical services and their in-home care cost per month
Home care is divided into two categories: non-medical and medical care. Non-medical home care involves assistance with daily living like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, transportation, and companionship. Medical home care offers skilled nursing services and healthcare support. Non-medical home care generally costs less than medical care, but this depends on required services, hours, and staff.
How to decide how much care you need
In-home care cost per month is usually priced by the hour and the types of services. Aides or nurses generally have a specified number of contracted hours by day or week with additional costs for transportation, food, and staffing expenses.
Some home care companies offer a discounted monthly package. For non-medical home care, costs can range from $4,000 to $6,000 per month for a set number of weekly hours. This is a great option for those who want a consistent schedule and routine. The average home care cost for medical services can be closer to $4,500 to $9,000 monthly depending on the level of medical attention required.
For those who want to live at home but require round-the-clock care, the 24/7 in-home care cost per month can cost upwards of $10,000 to $20,000. This covers multiple caregivers for ongoing shifts to ensure needs are met night and day, and it may also cover meals, transportation, and other agreed-upon costs.
Average home care cost versus assisted living center cost
Like how the cost of living at home for seniors can vary, so can the expenses of assisted living facilities. According to Genworth, the median for U.S. assisted living facilities in 2021 was $4,500 monthly. Nursing homes that provided medical expertise had a median of $7,800 for semi-private rooms and $8,910 for private rooms.
This means that cost of living at home for seniors is about the same as living in an assisted living facility or nursing center. However, you’ll want to do your own financial comparisons for the home care and facility care in your area, as these numbers can vary drastically by state.
If your costs would be similar for both situations, you can make the right decision based on the advantages and disadvantages of living at home versus living in a facility. For example, you might like the privacy and comfort of living in your own home or the social aspects about living in a communal center. Learn about the benefits of different types of senior living options with the following resources:
GoGo’s affordable in-home care solutions
GoGoGrandparent recognizes the high cost of living at home for seniors – and we wanted to do something about it. That’s why we came up with comprehensive, affordable home care solutions for seniors who live independently but want a range of services at their fingertips. GoGo offers rides, meal and grocery delivery, prescription delivery, and professional home services that can flex with your unique situation and changing needs. Along with an affordable membership, you pay for these services as you use them. That means you don’t need to pay a salaried home aid weekly – you just pay for what you need.
Generally, our clients get cheaper, more reliable, more flexible offerings through GoGoGrandparent than they would with a home care agency for non-medical services. Moreover, GoGoGrandparent offers different plans, pricing, and financing options, so you can choose the membership that best suits your needs.
Thousands of seniors are using GoGoGrandparent to live comfortably at home. In fact, thanks to GoGo’s services, many are finding that their average home care cost is dramatically lower than what they would be paying for full-time caregiving services or assisted living facilities.
If you are living independently and want to work on reducing your overall home care expenses, register for GoGoGrandparent now to take advantage of our affordable, flexible services.
