In-Home Care in New Hampshire

More than 1.3 million residents call New Hampshire home and of those who live here, an estimated 18.7% are seniors aged 65 and older. While those living in the state enjoy proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Canada’s border, a cost of housing that’s 20.5% above the national median reflects that luxury. Thankfully, health care services in New Hampshire are relatively affordable, with costs that are more than 12% below the U.S. average.

Those who require long-term care may consider home care, which includes personal care and help with chores, or home health care, which offers in-home nursing care and light medical support. The average cost of home care in New Hampshire is $6,006 per month.

This guide compares the cost of home care in New Hampshire to what seniors pay in surrounding states. It also provides information about financial assistance programs and other resources that are available to New Hampshire seniors.

According to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey, New Hampshire seniors pay an average of $6,006 per month for home care services. This is $1,049 more than the U.S. median ($4,957), and when compared with nearby states, it’s the highest average cost in the region. Seniors in both Vermont and Maine pay $5,720, while those in Massachusetts pay $5,911 per month.

The cost of senior care can vary depending on the city it’s provided in. Manchester’s average cost is $6,149 per month, which is $429 more than the $5,720 per month that seniors in Burlington, Vermont, and Worcester, Massachusetts, pay. To the east of New Hampshire in Portland, Maine, seniors pay $5,840 per month, while to the south in Boston, one of the largest cities in the area, the average cost is higher at $6,292.

In New Hampshire, home care is more affordable than most other available types of long-term care, including home health care services, which cost an average of $6,197 per month. Other options are assisted living, which provides residential care along with housekeeping and assistance with ADLs, and nursing home care, which offers 24-hour medical supervision in a residential setting. At $6,053 per month, assisted living is just slightly more expensive than home care, while nursing home care is priced much higher at $10,950 per month. Those who don’t need residential care and aren’t housebound might consider adult day health care, which has the lowest average cost at $1,842 per month.

Although New Hampshire Medicaid is limited in what it covers those who are aging in place, it does offer two programs that expand coverage to include everything required for in-home care. These programs are known as Personal Care Attendant Services and The Choices for Independence Program.

You can apply for New Hampshire Medicaid online at NHEasy. Alternatively, you can print out and complete an application and mail it to your local Department of Health and Human Services’ District Office. You can also call (800) 852-3345 to apply by phone.

What Information You Will Need

To complete the application process, you’ll need to provide:

• Photo identification
• Proof of address and residency/citizenship
• Proof of all income, including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  

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.