When a senior loved one needs help at home, one of the first questions families ask is “How are we going to pay for this?” The emotional weight of seeing someone you love struggle with daily tasks collides with the financial pressure of affording care.
Understanding the Costs
Nonmedical in-home care is a type of support that includes help with daily activities. The national median hourly rate for nonmedical caregiver services was $35 per hour in 2025. At 44 hours per week, that works out to roughly $80,080 per year.
Skilled home healthcare services, which involve licensed medical professionals, cost more than nonmedical in-home care. The 2025 national median was $90 per hour for private nursing in the home or $160 per visit, depending on the medical needs.
Paying for Home Care
Most households use a combination of private resources and assistance programs to pay for home care. Private funding typically comes from personal savings, long-term care insurance, life insurance policies, or home equity and reverse mortgages.
Two main government programs — Medicaid and VA benefits — can also help qualifying seniors offset or significantly reduce costs. Medicaid is the primary government program that covers nonmedical in-home support for those who meet income and asset thresholds.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
