The Best In-Home Care Services for Seniors in St. Charles, MO for 2024

Known for its historic downtown, beautiful parks and proximity to the Missouri River, Saint Charles offers tranquil surroundings for its 71,184 residents, 17.3% of whom are aged 65+. Seniors can also benefit from the city's low cost of living and superb medical institutions such as SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital and Select Specialty Hospital. However, home care is relatively expensive in Saint Charles at $5,482 per month, which is $715 more than the state average. It offers personal care and other nonmedical services, such as housekeeping and transportation for seniors who need help to live independently, whereas home health care includes skilled nursing, therapies and medical services for people recovering from injuries or managing chronic conditions.

Below we've compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Saint Charles area – complete with services offered and reviews from families who've actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we've compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

According to Genworth's Cost of Care Survey, home care averages $5,482 monthly in Saint Charles, which is more expensive than the state and national averages by $715 and $525, respectively. Most other locations in Missouri are much cheaper. By living in Cape Girardeau, seniors may save up to $1,726, while monthly expenses are $1,669 cheaper in Jefferson City. Larger cities are typically more costly, with Kansas City averaging $4,957 per month and Columbia averaging $5,053, but both are still more affordable than Saint Charles.

Home care and home health care both cost $5,482 in Saint Charles, making them more expensive than many other types of care, except nursing homes, which cost $5,627 per month but are often the best choice for seniors with complex health care needs. Adult day care is $3,564 cheaper than home care, potentially making it ideal for seniors who require less aid. Assisted living, which provides personal care, regular activities and access to various amenities in a community environment, costs $1,382 less than home care 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.