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The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Merriam, KS 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 Merriam, KS, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies across the 21 options below.
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Paying for Home Care in Merriam, KS
The Cost of Home Care in Merriam, KS
The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey notes seniors in the Kansas City, Missouri region pay around $4,957 per month for in-home care. This is greater than the state median for Kansas at $4,576 per month but equal to the national median. Several nearby areas have lower monthly median rates than Kansas City, such as Wichita and Lawrence at $4,767. However, seniors in Topeka will likely pay a higher rate at $5,625 per month.
Kansas City, Missouri
$4,957
Kansas
$4,576
The United States
$4,957
Wichita, Kansas
$4,767
Lawrence, Kansas
$4,767
Topeka, Kansas
$5,625
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Merriam, KS
Seniors have many care options available to them around Merriam. Both home care and home health care, which includes medical services from trained nurses and therapists, costs approximately $4,957 per month. Assisted living facilities charge a lower monthly median rate of $4,585. Adult day care is also a more affordable option at around $1,733 per month. A final, more costly alternative is a nursing home facility, where a semiprivate room has an average cost of $6,464 per month.
Home Care
$4,957
Home Health Care
$4,957
Adult Day Health Care
$1,733
Assisted Living
$4,585
Nursing Home Care (semi-private room)
$6,464
Note: Data for Merriam, KS was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Kansas City, MO was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Merriam, KS
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.
Free & Low-Cost Home Care Resources in Merriam, KS
Seniors in Merriam have access to various resources for aging in place safely. Through the Area Agency on Aging in Johnson County and associated programs, seniors can apply for care services, home repairs, legal help, tax-paying assistance and much more for low to no cost. Listed below are a handful of resources for Merriam senior residents.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County Area Agency on Aging | (913) 715-8861 (888) 214-4404 | The Johnson County Area Agency on Aging supports seniors through community-rooted services in Merriam and surrounding locations. They provide in-home aid, including attendant care, housekeeping, respite care and medication management. AAA also helps coordinate meal delivery and nutritional care through local efforts and offers legal, insurance-based and mental health counseling. For Johnson County seniors seeking various resources and care options, AAA's Explore Your Options Directory helps highlight services and agencies for adults aged 60 and over. |
| HOME Program | (913) 715-6612 | The HOME Program can assist home-owning seniors of Johnson County with home renovations. Repairs, including but not limited to accessibility renovations, weatherization improvements and lead-based paint fixing, help to ensure the safety and health of the homeowners. After filling out an application, homeowners whose houses require at least $1,000 in necessary fixes can have a complete inspection of all conditions and then begin rehabilitation. |
| Homestead and SAFESR Tax Refunds | (913) 715-0775 (County Clerk) (785) 368-8222 (Kansas Tax line) (800) 906-9887 (VITA) | The Homestead Property Tax Refund and SAFESR Property Tax Relief may apply to Johnson County senior homeowners and can be filed with the Kansas Department of Revenue. The Homestead tax refund (K-40H) can provide a rebate on a percentage of property taxes for the owner's homestead, and the SAFESR tax relief (K-40PT) offers a refund of 75% of property taxes for home-owning seniors with low income. Assistance on these tax refunds can be provided through the Johnson County Clerk, Kansas Tax Line, Kansas Department of Revenue offices in Topeka and Volunteer Income Tax Preparation (VITA) sites for those with low or moderate incomes. |
| Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) | (800) 860-5260 | Merriam seniors can take advantage of free counseling on Medicare, long-term care and other health insurance matters. Local volunteer counselors are trained on matters of health insurance relating to senior citizens, including employment and disability, to assist with any questions or concerns seniors or family members may have surrounding Medicare. |
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – oftentimes it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.
Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.
