The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Walla Walla, WA 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 Walla Walla, WA, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies across the 8 options below.

Seniors in Walla Walla pay an average of $6,149 for home care. While this is much higher than the national monthly home care cost average of $4,957, it’s several hundred dollars lower than Washington’s statewide average of $6,547. Mount Vernon residents pay the most for home care costs in Washington at $7,245, while costs drop to $6,769 in the state’s largest metro of Seattle, and they drop even further to $6,387 in the second-largest city, Spokane. Those in Wenatchee pay the lowest home care costs at an average of $5,911 per month. 

At an average cost of $2,600, adult day care is the most affordable senior care option in Walla Walla, but these programs are provided in community centers and are typically only available during the day on weekdays. Seniors needing limited medical services pay an average of $6,149 per month for home health care, which is not the same as home care as it offers the assistance of a licensed health care professional. Nursing home care is the most expensive at $9,232 for a semiprivate room, while assisted living costs an average of $3,211.

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.