The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Fort Pierce, FL 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 Fort Pierce, FL, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 5.0 out of 5 stars across the 26 options below.

Just north of Port Saint Lucie, Fort Pierce has the same care costs, which means seniors pay an average of $4,671 per month for home care. These costs are nearly $100 lower than the state median and more than $280 less expensive than the average American city. It’s also very affordable compared to many nearby cities. While costs in Miami are only $4,195, Sebring is slightly more expensive. Rates are even higher in Sebastian at $5,100, though the most expensive city in the area is Naples, where home care is over $1,000 higher than in Fort Pierce.

Seniors and their families may consider additional care options. The most affordable type of care is adult day health care at $1,517, followed by assisted living, which is about $1,000 less per month than home health care services, which include skilled nursing services in addition to in-home care. Seniors who require higher levels of medical attention may consider a nursing home, which is the city’s most expensive option, with rates starting at $8,164 for semiprivate accommodations.

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.