The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Huntsville, AL for 2024

Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Huntsville, AL, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 4.7 out of 5 stars across the 16 options below.

The 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey shows the average home care costs in Huntsville are $953 less than the national average and $238 less than the costs in the capital city of Birmingham. However, Huntsville’s costs are $191 higher than the Alabama state average and lower prices can be found in the nearby cities of Decatur and Florence. 

Home care and home health care have identical cost estimates in Huntsville. Seniors may prefer the home health care option if they need medical services such as IV medication and wound care. For seniors who need more help and supervision, assisted living is $659 per month cheaper than home care options. Adult day health programs are the lowest priced option, at $2,866 cheaper than home care. Finally, seniors that require more extensive and medically skilled help may want to choose a nursing home, which will cost $2,844 more per month than a home care service.

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-Term Care Insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living.Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.