How Much Does In-Home Care Cost? A Guide to Private-Pay Rates

For most families, the first question about senior care is also the hardest to answer: what is this going to cost? It's a fair worry. About 7 in 10 adults will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime, and with roughly 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, more families are facing that question than ever.

The good news is that in-home care costs are more understandable than they first appear, and there are more ways to pay for it than most people realize. Here's a clear breakdown.

What Drives the Cost of In-Home Care

Three things shape the price more than anything else:

• Where you live. Rates vary widely by region. Big metro areas and high-cost states run well above the national median, while smaller cities and rural areas tend to run below it.
• The level of care. Companion and personal-care help (meals, errands, bathing, dressing) is billed at one rate; skilled nursing care in the home costs considerably more because it requires a licensed professional.
• How many hours you need. A few hours a week looks very different from full-time support — and full-time itself comes in two forms that cost differently: 24-hour care (caregivers work in shifts and stay awake overnight) and live-in care (a caregiver stays in the home and sleeps there). Your schedule is usually the single biggest factor in the monthly total.

What In-Home Care Costs as of 2025

According to the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey (formerly the Genworth survey), the national median rates are:

• Non-medical caregiver: about $35 per hour. This covers companionship and help with daily activities. At 44 hours a week, that works out to roughly $6,700 a month, or about $80,000 a year.
• Skilled nursing in the home: about $90 per hour. For medical care that requires a licensed nurse.

These are national midpoints. California and major metro areas, for example, run notably higher than the national figure. (For California specifics, see our guide to home care costs in California — Navigating the Cost of Home Health Care in California)

How In-Home Care Compares to Other Options

It helps to see in-home care next to the alternatives. Here are the 2025 national median costs from CareScout:

For part-time help, in-home care is often the most affordable choice, and it lets your loved one stay in familiar surroundings. For around-the-clock needs, full-time in-home care can approach or exceed the cost of a facility, so it's worth comparing options honestly based on your loved one's actual needs.

What In-Home Care Actually Includes

Day to day, an independent caregiver can help with far more than the basics. Depending on your needs, that can include:

• Personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming, mobility)
• Meal planning and preparation
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• Medication reminders
• Transportation and errands
• Companionship and conversation

Many families also use care for the "extras" that make life fuller — help getting to a haircut or manicure, pet care, escorting a loved one to a museum, concert, or family event. Care can be as practical or as enriching as you want it to be.

Is In-Home Care the Right Fit?

In-home care is a strong fit when your loved one:

• Wants to stay in their own home and is safe to do so with some support
• Needs help with everyday activities but not round-the-clock medical care
• Is in the early or middle stages of memory loss and does well with routine and a familiar setting
• Benefits from companionship and one-on-one attention

It may not be the best fit when your loved one:

• Needs round-the-clock skilled medical or nursing care
• Has advanced memory loss and requires a secured environment
• Would be safer or happier in a community with built-in social activities and on-site staff

There's no universally right answer — the goal is matching the setting to the person's needs and wishes. (About 3 in 4 adults over 50 say they want to stay in their own homes as they age, which is why so many families start with in-home care.)

Don't Overlook the Hidden Cost of Doing It All Yourself

When families compare costs, they often leave out the biggest one: their own time. Caring for a loved one without help can mean lost wages, reduced hours, missed career opportunities, and real physical and emotional strain. Factoring in that "opportunity cost" often makes paid help look very different on paper.

It's also worth planning ahead. Demand for caregivers is climbing fast — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects home health and personal care aide roles to be among the fastest-growing occupations in the country over the coming decade, and that demand is one reason care costs keep rising. (For a closer look at what's driving those increases, see our piece — The Rising Cost of Aging) Lining up support before a crisis gives you more choice and less stress.

How to Pay for In-Home Care

Most families use a mix of the following. A benefits counselor or financial advisor can help you figure out what your loved one qualifies for.

• Private pay. Personal savings, retirement income, or family contributions. Many families share the cost among siblings.
• Long-term care insurance. If your loved one has a policy, it may cover in-home care — check the daily benefit, elimination period, and what triggers coverage.
• Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California). May cover in-home care for those who qualify financially. Your local Area Agency on Aging is the best starting point — find it through the free Eldercare Locator (eldercare.acl.gov or 1-800-677-1116). The NCOA's free BenefitsCheckup tool (benefitscheckup.org) can also help you find programs you may be eligible for.
• Medicare. Important to know: Medicare generally does not pay for long-term, non-medical in-home care. It may cover limited skilled care after a hospital stay, but not ongoing daily help.
• Veterans benefits. Wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for help through programs like Aid & Attendance, Housebound benefits, Veteran Directed Care, and the VA's Homemaker and Home Health Aide program.
• PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). A Medicare/Medicaid program that coordinates and covers care for those who qualify. To be eligible, a person generally must be 55 or older, live in a PACE service area, need a nursing-home level of care, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE support.
• Health Savings Account (HSA). Funds can often be used toward qualifying care costs.

(Looking for more ways to bring the cost down? See our guide, to see if you can decrease the cost for your family — 7 Ways to Lower Senior Care Costs)

A Smarter Way to Find Care

When cost is tight, some families are tempted to hire a caregiver they find on their own. It can look simpler at first, but hiring privately means no background screening, no backup if your caregiver gets sick, and taking on employer responsibilities like taxes and liability yourself.

A referral service is a middle path. 1+1 Cares connects families with screened, independent caregivers and stays involved to help with matching and any issues that come up. There's no minimum-hour requirement, so you pay only for the hours you actually need — whether that's a few hours a week or full-time support. You choose the caregiver who feels right, and you stay in control throughout.

Understanding the cost is the first step. Figuring out the right plan for your family is the next, and you don't have to do it alone. When you're ready, we'd be glad to talk through your options and connect you with an independent caregiver who fits your needs and budget. Schedule a call today.

1+1 Cares is a referral service that works for clients and caregivers. We match independent caregivers with families and share your requirements with them. We work for you, so you and your loved one can have a safe, comfortable caregiving experience.