How home care is priced, in plain terms
Nobody in this industry publishes a rate card, and there is a reason for that: the right number depends on the plan. What we can do is explain every factor that moves the price, tell you what is included, and give you exact numbers after a free in-home assessment.
What moves the hourly rate
Hours per visit and visits per week
Longer, regular shifts are more efficient to staff than short scattered ones. A four-hour visit three times a week is priced differently per hour than a two-hour visit every day.
Level of care
Companion care, hands-on personal care and dementia care require different training and experience. Two-person transfers or complex behavioral needs are the top of the range.
Time of day and week
Overnights, weekends and holidays carry a premium because they are harder to staff and we pay caregivers more for them.
24-hour care model
The biggest question is whether the overnight caregiver must be awake. Awake overnights are billed hourly; a sleeping overnight, when safe, costs less.
How soon care needs to start
Same-day and next-day starts are possible but limit our ability to match the ideal caregiver, and may carry a short-notice rate.
Duration
Short-term post-hospital plans and long-term ongoing care are structured differently. Neither requires a long-term contract.
What the rate pays for
The difference between an agency rate and a private hire is everything on this list.
- A licensed, insured, bonded agency accountable for the care
- Caregivers who are W-2 employees: background checked, registered with the state, trained, and covered by workers' compensation
- A written care plan and visit notes after every shift
- Backup coverage when a regular caregiver is sick
- Supervision by the owners, including in-home visits
- Scheduling, payroll, taxes and insurance handled by us, not the family
- No long-term contract. Hours can go up, down or stop with notice.
Where the money usually comes from
Private pay
Most families pay from income, savings or home equity. We bill on a regular schedule with itemized statements.
Long-term care insurance
We work with all major carriers and provide the documentation they require. Ask us to help you read the policy.
Veterans benefits
Aid and Attendance and VA community care programs can offset home care costs for eligible veterans and surviving spouses.
Not covered
Medicare and standard health insurance do not pay for non-medical home care. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a small in-home support benefit.
Pricing questions
Why not just publish your rates?
Because a single number would be wrong for most families. A companion visit and an awake overnight dementia shift are not the same product. We would rather explain the factors honestly here and give you a precise quote after seeing the situation.
Is the assessment really free?
Yes. Carly visits the home, meets your family member and writes a proposed plan with exact pricing. There is no charge and no obligation.
Is there a deposit or contract?
We ask for a signed service agreement that spells out rates, scheduling and cancellation terms. There is no long-term commitment; hours can be changed or stopped with reasonable notice.
How does agency care compare to hiring someone privately?
Hiring privately is cheaper per hour and comes with real obligations: you become the employer, responsible for payroll taxes, workers' compensation, background checks, and coverage when the caregiver cannot come. Our rate includes all of that.
Exact numbers after one visit
Carly visits the home, meets your family member and writes a proposed plan with pricing. Free, no obligation.