In-Home Care in Maryland

Maryland is an attractive location for older adults who are considering in-home care. Residents can enjoy a high quality of life with easy access to beaches, historic sites, major East Coast cities and the nation’s capital. Seniors benefit from world-class medical facilities, including Johns Hopkins Hospital the University of Maryland Medical Center. Plus, health care costs are slightly lower than the national average. The state also has several licensed home care and home health agencies. The median cost of in-home care is $5,148 per month, which is slightly higher than the national average. Agencies that provide medical care and skilled therapy in addition to help with chores and personal care may charge slightly more.

If you want a location that’s well-connected and offers plenty of amenities, look no further than Maryland. The Old Line State provides everything that its almost 1 million seniors need to thrive. In this guide, you’ll find information about long-term care prices in Maryland and the state’s Medicaid benefits for home care. We’ve also included information about the latest regulations for home care providers and a directory of statewide resources to help you age in place.

In-home chore assistance and personal care costs $5,148 per month in Maryland, according to Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. This study estimates that seniors require 44 hours of care per week. Prices in Maryland are typical for the mid-Atlantic region. Seniors in Delaware and Washington, D.C., pay several hundred dollars more at $5,339 and $5,577, respectively. West Virginia is the cheapest option at $3,527. With a median of $4,767, Virginia is $381 cheaper than Maryland. Home care prices in Pennsylvania are on par with the national average, which could save you $191 per month.

Home care prices in Maryland’s largest cities are all even with or lower than the state median. California is the most affordable location, with an average of $4,576. Prices rose to $4,957 in Baltimore, Cumberland and Salisbury. Prices are even with the state median in Hagerstown at $5,148.

In-home care provides maximum flexibility when it comes to the level of support that you receive. You might request help a few hours a week or have someone come in every day. The median cost for 44 hours of weekly home care or home health care is $5,148. Adult day health care costs less than $2,000 per month. Programs may include meals, recreational activities and physical therapy. Assisted living costs $4,900 per month, including room, board and personal assistance. The cost for nursing home care jumps considerably to $10,342.

Maryland provides State Plan home health care services to certain seniors and low-income adults. The state also provides home- and community-based waiver services. These programs have higher income limits in some cases, but applicants must be disabled or require a specific level of care.

If you want to apply for Medicaid, you can complete the process online at MDTHink, a public benefits portal operated by the Department of Human Services. You can also apply in person or by mail. You’ll need to locate your county’s Department of Social Services or Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Individuals in Baltimore and several counties may visit the Bureau of Long Term Care for assistance.

• If you’re aged 65 or older are disabled or receive Medicare, complete an Application for Assistance.
• If you need in-home services consistent with a nursing home level of care, complete the Long Term Care/ Waiver Medical Assistance Application.
• If you’re eligible for Medicaid because you receive SSI, complete the waiver application for SSI recipients.

What Information You Will Need

According to the state government, it takes most individuals 20 to 45 minutes to apply for Medicaid. You can save time if you have the following documents on hand. If you’re required to provide documentation, send copies as originals can’t be returned.

• Name and date of birth
• Social Security number
• Residency information
• Any other government benefits you receive
• Address or place of residence
• Medical and financial needs
• Assets sold or transferred in the past find years
• Monthly expenses
• Financial obligations
• All sources of income
• Federal Tax returns
• Financial statements
• Legal documents, such as power of attorney
• Health insurance information
• Life insurance policies

In general, Medicare does not cover the cost of non-medical home care. That being said, there are situations in which Medicare provides some coverage for medical home care, referred to as “Home Healthcare.” There are several eligibility restrictions for coverage, including that individuals must be homebound and have a referral from their doctor specifically for home healthcare services.

Below is an overview of some of the skilled medical professionals whose in-home services are typically covered by Medicare – for more in-depth information, refer to our Guide to Home Healthcare.

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis, and assist in recovery from surgeries and procedures such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Visiting Nurses: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services for those who don’t need to stay in the hospital, but do need regular medical services such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.
• Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities.
• Speech Therapists: Speech therapists help seniors who are struggling to adequately communicate due to a stroke, dementia, or any other cause regain the ability to functionally communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets, teaching special techniques to swallow safely, and retraining associated muscles.

As mentioned above, in-home care is distinctly different from home healthcare. But, there can be some overlap in services between the two types of care. So, while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical in-home care, there are in-home care services that may be covered in special circumstances when they’re provided in conjunction with home healthcare (such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing)

To find quality home care providers near you, simply input the zip code or city where you would like to start your search. We have an extensive directory of home care agencies all across the nation that includes in-depth information about each provider and hundreds of thousands of reviews from seniors and their loved ones.