In home care costs will vary by the type of care needed, the location where the care is being provided, the length of the shift and whether the care provider is a caregiver or a nurse.
A reputable home health care agency can provide in home care at an hourly rate ranging on average from $29-$36 per hour in Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. The rate for private duty nursing will run $48 to $55 per hour for an LVN and $75 to $105 per hour for an RN.
Longer shifts, such as 24 hour in home care, may be quoted at a lower hourly rate than shorter shifts, such as quick daily visits or shift care up to five or six hours per day.
These costs of in home care should include worker’s compensation insurance, payroll taxes, bonding, training and background checks.
Many people think that Medicare will fund the cost of long term in home care, but that is not true. Medicare funds intermittent visits of a nurse, home health aide, physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech therapist after a hospital stay or injury. The visits are short term and the patient must be considered homebound. Medi-Cal may fund in home care for financially vulnerable seniors, those with incomes less than about $1700 monthly, or disabled individuals who meet certain guidelines.
Veterans may be able to access VA Aid & Attendance monthly benefits to help offset the cost of in home care. There are specifications and rules to follow and an application to complete.
Long term care insurance also eases the financial burden of the cost of in home care for those who purchased the policies and successfully file a long term care insurance claim. Those accessing their long term care policies must attest that they require constant safety monitoring due to mild to severe cognitive impairment or assistance with at least two or three activities of daily living.
Always check that the home health or home care agency that you are hiring is a full employer of its caregivers or nurses so that you are protected from the dangers of illegal pay such as employment liability and potential wage an hour claims from a caregiver based on illegal pay.
Also, check with an accountant or tax attorney to see if in home care expenses can be deducted for tax purposes.
With all the variables related to in home care costs, it’s a good idea to explore a few options, call a few home care agencies and see which solution will work best for you or someone you love.
Need some advice on how to find a reputable home care agency? Check out this quick video with easy to follow tips for care anywhere in the United States.