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The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Columbia, MO for 2024

Columbia, Missouri, boasts small-town charm in a bustling city of culture, arts and cuisine. With 126,854 residents, Columbia offers a variety of senior services despite the fact that seniors make up only 11% of the population — substantially less than the national average of 16.8%. Located in the center of the state, this vibrant city offers low housing prices and easy access to quality health care. Among the best in the state, University of Missouri Health Care Hospital is rated as high performing for seven procedures, including heart attacks and heart failure. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, home care costs around $5,053 per month on average in Columbia. Home care offers personal care services, while home health care is medical care provided by a nurse or therapist.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Columbia– complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

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Home Care Agencies in Columbia, MO

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Paying for Home Care in Columbia, MO

The Cost of Home Care in Columbia, MO

Home care in Columbia is around $300 higher than the state average and $100 higher than the national average. In the center of the state in Jefferson City, care is very affordable, costing around $3,813 per month on average. In the south of the state in Springfield and in the north in St Joseph, the average cost of care equals the state average of $4,767. In the west in Kansas City, the average price of care is the same as the national average.

Columbia

$5,053

Missouri

$4,767

The United States

$4,957

Jefferson City

$3,813

Springfield

$4,767

Kansas City

$4,957

St Joseph

$4,767

The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Columbia, MO

Columbia seniors can access a range of care types, including home care, which includes personal care services and costs around $5,053 per month. Home health care includes medical services and costs around $100 more. For seniors who need 24/7 attention, assisted living communities are very affordable, costing around $2,250 less than home care. Nursing homes provide the highest level of care, but cost a mere $50 more than home care. 

Home Care

$5,053

Home Health Care

$5,148

Assisted Living

$2,800

Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)

$5,095

Financial Assistance for Home Care in Columbia, MO

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.

Columbia Home Care Resources

Home care services are only one of the pieces needed for seniors to gracefully age in place. There are many services and programs that are low-cost or free, that enable seniors to enjoy an independent lifestyle in the comfort of their own home, such as help with home modifications, meal delivery services, and more. Below, we’ve compiled a few of the most helpful resources in Columbia:

ResourceContactAddressService
Utility Assistance CASH Program(573) 817-64301005 W. Worley Street, Columbia, MO 65203The Division of Human Services for Boone County manages a utility assistance service that includes the CASH Program. This specific initiative offers a subsidy on utility payments for low-income senior citizens under certain conditions and eligibility requirements. Seniors applying for the program must be residents of Boone County and U.S citizens, permanent residents or formal refugees. Seniors must also have an income that’s at or no higher than 150% of the official Federal Poverty Level.
SIL-Columbia: Aging In Place/Senior Services Program(573) 874-64301401 Hathman Place, Columbia, MO 65201The Aging in Place/Senior Services program is managed by the Columbia branch of Services for Independent Living, which is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to assisting the elderly, disabled and veterans. The assistance is available to residents of Columbia and Boone County who are 55 or older and includes a carrier alert service by which mail delivery personnel will alert SIL for a wellness check if they note mail piling up at the address of an enrolled senior. The program also includes weekly one-hour friendship visitations by volunteers, monthly grocery delivery, property tax refund filing and minor home and accessibility ramp repairs for seniors.
Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging(573) 443-58231121 Business Loop 70 East, Suite 2A, Columbia, MO 65201The Columbia branch of the Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging offers support to seniors in the Columbia area. Assistance includes information on available services for seniors, mobility assistance programs, meal planning and respite care guidance. It also offers individual counseling and support group services to seniors and training programs for caregivers. 
Central Missouri Community Action – Foster Grandparents Program(573) 443-8706 ext 1131807 North Providence, Columbia MO 65203The Foster Grandparent Program is run by the CMCA as an outreach service to seniors who want to interact with children in their community. It offers seniors volunteer work at nonprofit day care centers, state-sponsored facilities, schools and private homes. Much of the volunteer work is directed at helping children with special needs. The program is open to retired men and women who are 55 or older and undertake a formal physical exam showing that they’re able to participate.

Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care

Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – often times it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.

Download
Checklist for determining the need for home care
Checklist for determining the need for home care

Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care

If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.

Download
Talking with Family and Others about a loved one's needs
Talking with Family and Others about a loved one's needs
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The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Caring.com

Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. We offer thousands of original articles, helpful tools, advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

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