The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Amesbury, MA 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 Amesbury, MA, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies across the 27 options below.

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that seniors in Amesbury pay $6,292 per month for full-time in-home care. This is 6% higher than the state average and about 27% higher than the national norm, and it exceeds care costs in most other surveyed cities across Massachusetts. For example, in Worcester, monthly care costs are about $570 less than in Amesbury, and in Pittsfield, monthly fees are nearly $670 less. Similarly, in Springfield, rates are about 11% below Amesbury’s average, although seniors in Barnstable Town pay comparatively high rates of $6,673 for care.

In Amesbury, home care agencies charge $6,292 per month for nonmedical services, which is moderate compared to other senior care options in the community. This type of care costs about 8% less than assisted living, which includes housing and nonmedical personal care services. Home care is also considerably less expensive than nursing home care, which starts at $13,155. On the other hand, seniors may pay about $50 less for home health care than in-home care. Adult day health care is the most cost-effective option compared to home care at $1,614 per month.

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 to pay 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 nonmedical 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 services 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 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 tax-free portion of your home's equity in cash. 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 have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.