A Straightforward Guide for Families
If you are researching the cost of home care, you are likely in the middle of one of the most important decisions a family can make: how to help someone you love remain comfortable, safe, supported, and with the highest quality of life possible.
Every family’s situation is different, and the most accurate way to understand your cost is a conversation about your loved one’s specific needs. We offer a free, no-obligation assessment to help you do exactly that.
What Does Home Care Cost in Massachusetts?
Each year, the CareScout© Cost of Care Survey (formerly the Genworth Cost of Care Survey) gathers tens of thousands of rates from providers across the country. According to the most recent survey, the national median rate for non-medical home care is $35 per hour.
Massachusetts consistently ranks among the higher-cost states for senior care, just as it does for housing and most other services. Statewide, home care rates typically run in the high $30s to low-to-mid $40s per hour, with rates in the Greater Boston, South Shore, and MetroWest areas often at or above the upper end of that range.
What does that look like in practice? Because home care is billed by the hour, your cost scales with the amount of support your loved one needs, not the type (with the exception of highly specialized care needs).
A family who needs a few mornings of support each week will spend less than a family who needs daily visits. Around-the-clock care represents the fullest level of investment.
This flexibility is one of home care’s most important financial features. You can adjust costs of home care based on your loved one’s needs and personal situation at any given time. You are paying for the hours of care your loved one needs right now, and you can adjust as those needs change.
- HIPAA
- Alzheimer’s and dementia care
- Universal precautions
- Infection control
- Tuberculosis prevention
- Osteoporosis care
- Nutrition and cooking
- Hospice – end of life care
- Caring for seniors with vision loss
- Caring for seniors with hearing loss
What Affects the Cost of Home Care?
These factors contribute to what a family may pay for home care in Massachusetts:
Hours and schedule. The number of care hours per week is the single biggest driver of cost. Weekends and holidays often carry modestly higher rates. It is also worth asking how a provider prices overnight and 24-hour coverage: some agencies, including ours, charge the same hourly rate as a standard shift, while others add surcharges which can change the cost significantly for families considering full-time care.
Shift length. How visits are structured can affect your rate. Most agencies have minimum shift lengths so caregivers can provide meaningful, unhurried care, and the length of each shift may factor into pricing.
Private vs. Agency care: Agency care typically costs more per hour than hiring a private caregiver directly, but that difference reflects real value: professional hiring screening, oversight and supervision of caregivers, the ability to provide backup coverage when a caregiver is sick, full management of the caregiver schedule, liability coverage, and payroll management. Families who hire privately take on those responsibilities and risks themselves.
Location: Even within Massachusetts, rates vary by region. Coastal and metro-adjacent communities tend to run higher than the statewide median.
Level of Care: When highly specialized skills are needed from a professional caregiver, such as hospice care support, max assist needs, or advanced cognitive decline, this may add some cost to ensure the caregiver is appropriately qualified. If your loved one needs specialized caregivers, it is important to ask the agency about how they train and qualify caregivers for these services.
Home Care and Assisted Living Does Not Have to be an Either/Or Choice
One option that can be helpful to families is exploring both home care and assisted living – often at different stages, but sometimes simultaneously.
Home care can serve as a wonderful bridge, helping a senior remain safely at home longer while families gather more information. Professional caregivers and Care Advisors can also give everyone a clearer picture of care needs before making a move.
When a transition to assisted living becomes the right choice, it doesn’t have to be abrupt or stressful. Many families continue working with home care providers during and after the move for extra one-on-one companionship, overnight support, or specialized help.
We are proud to partner with many excellent assisted living communities across the South Shore and MetroWest. We regularly collaborate closely with their teams to create seamless care plans that combine the best of community living with personalized home care support. These partnerships allow us – and local assisted living facilities – to support residents and families with the best option for their safety, comfort, and needs.
How Families Pay for Home Care in Massachusetts
Most non-medical home care in Massachusetts is paid privately, but several resources can help:
Long-term care insurance. Many policies cover home care, and we work with long-term care insurance carriers regularly. We can help you understand your policy’s benefits and handle much of the documentation.
VA benefits. Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for Homemaker and Home Health Aide services, and programs like Aid and Attendance can help eligible veterans and surviving spouses pay for care. North River Home Care is a VA-approved vendor with a dedicated team member who works directly with the VA, so we can assist families through this process.
Other possible sources: Life insurance conversions, annuities, and home equity are additional avenues some families explore, often with guidance from a financial advisor or elder law attorney. We are happy to connect you with trusted professionals in our referral network.
Frequently Asked Questions About Home Care Costs
How much does home care cost per hour in Massachusetts?
Statewide, non-medical home care typically runs in the high $30s to low $40s per hour, above the national median of $35, according to the most recent CareScout® Cost of Care Survey. Your actual rate depends on the schedule, level of care, and location.
Is home care cheaper than assisted living?
While this is a common question people ask, it is actually the “wrong” question. A more productive question is “what does my loved one need and what options can meet that need.” The answer to that question, combined with budgetary requirements, provides the optimum path(s) to explore.
Consider both assisted living and home care as an option, or home care as a bridge to home care. Around-the-clock home care typically costs about the same as assisted living in Massachusetts (with exceptions), and families typically choose it for reasons other than cost, such as honoring a loved one’s strong desire to remain at home (as long as it is safe to do so), and/or be close family and strong neighborhood ties.
Does insurance pay for home care?
Traditional health insurance and Medicare generally do not cover ongoing non-medical home care, though Medicare may cover short-term skilled home health services ordered by a physician, which is a different service. Long-term care insurance frequently covers non-medical home care, depending on the policy.
Do VA benefits cover home care?
Yes, eligible veterans may receive Homemaker and Home Health Aide services through the VA, and Aid and Attendance benefits can help qualifying veterans and surviving spouses pay for care.
Can home care help my parent avoid or delay a move to assisted living?
Very often, yes. The right amount of in-home support frequently allows seniors to remain safely at home for far longer. And if a move eventually becomes the right choice, the experience of home care helps families understand exactly what level of support to look for in a community.
- Cooking and feeding
- Ensuring medications are taken on time
- Showering/Bathing
- Dressing
- Toileting (including issues related to incontinence)
- Light housework (i.e., dishes, laundry, etc.)
- Walking assistance to prevent falls
- Shopping
- Pet Care
Let’s Talk About What Your Family Needs
Since 2007, North River Home Care has helped families across the South Shore and MetroWest navigate these decisions with honesty and warmth. As local, family-owned agency, we know these conversations are about much more than numbers. Dignity, quality of life, safety, and peace of mind are just as important – if not more important – as cost.
A free in-home assessment with one of our professional Care Advisors will give you a clear picture of the care your loved one needs and exactly what it would cost. No pressure, no obligation, just straight answers from people who do this every day.
Request a Free Assessment or call (781) 659-1366.
