Many seniors want to stay in their own home, and in-home care makes that possible by bringing help to them. It is priced by the hour, which makes it flexible and affordable in small doses, and costly when care is needed around the clock.
In-home care, whether a homemaker who helps with household tasks or a home health aide who assists with personal care, commonly runs around $30 to $35 per hour depending on your area and the level of help. The CareScout Cost of Care Survey (Genworth Financial, published March 2, 2026, 2025 data) put the national median non-medical caregiver rate at $35 an hour.
The math changes quickly when care is needed all day. A few hours of help a few days a week is manageable for many budgets. Continuous, 24-hour care is a different matter: at roughly $30 an hour, around-the-clock support can reach $15,000 to $20,000 or more per month. At that point, a facility often costs less for the same intensity of care, which is the tradeoff families weigh.
Skilled medical care at home, like nursing visits, is a separate and higher-cost service, sometimes covered by Medicare for a limited time when ordered by a doctor.
For light support, in-home care is usually the cheaper and more comfortable choice, and it keeps a person in familiar surroundings. As needs grow toward full-time care, the hourly model becomes more expensive than assisted living or a nursing home, which spread staffing across many residents. Comparing the two honestly is the key decision. See our care cost comparison.
Most in-home care is private pay. Long-term care insurance often covers it, some veterans benefits apply, and Medicare may cover limited skilled home health care when medically ordered, but not ongoing personal care. We outline the options in how to pay for senior care.
How you hire changes both cost and responsibility. An agency charges more per hour, but it vets caregivers, handles payroll and taxes, carries insurance, and sends a substitute when someone is sick. Hiring an independent caregiver directly costs less per hour, but you effectively become an employer, responsible for taxes, backup coverage, and the risks if something goes wrong. The lower rate is not the whole comparison.
The CareScout Cost of Care Survey (Genworth Financial, March 2026, 2025 data) put the national median non-medical in-home caregiver rate at $35 an hour, up from about $30 in recent years. Rates differ widely by location and by agency versus independent caregiver.
Around the clock, the hourly model adds up fast. At roughly $30 an hour, continuous care can reach $15,000 to $20,000 or more per month. At that intensity, a care facility often costs less for the same level of support.
A homemaker helps with cooking, cleaning, errands, and companionship, with no hands-on care. A home health aide adds personal care such as bathing, dressing, and mobility. Skilled nursing care at home is a separate, higher-cost service.
Medicare may cover limited skilled home health care, like nursing or therapy, when a doctor orders it, but it does not cover ongoing personal or custodial care. Most in-home care is private pay, with long-term care insurance and some veterans benefits helping.
Naomi explains what Medicare actually covers, why two hospitals charge wildly different prices for the same procedure, and how to read an explanation-of-benefits letter without filing it in the deal-with-later pile. Peer-reviewed sources only.