The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Gastonia, NC for 2024

Gastonia is a small city in North Carolina, home to just over 82,000 residents. It has a small population of retirees, with 15.5% of those who live in the city aged 65 or older. Residents can take advantage of the city's low cost of living and reasonably comfortable climate. They also benefit from easy access to health care at the Atrium Health Primary Care Facility and CaroMont Regional Medical Center. Seniors who require personal care support at home can expect to pay a home care agency in Gastonia a median of $4,668 per month. Home health care services, which include light medical duties, cost $99 more per month.

Below we've compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Gastonia area – 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.

Seniors in Gastonia pay slightly more than the state average of $4,385 for home care services, according to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. However, they pay almost $300 less than the U.S. average, and less than seniors in Asheville. Seniors pay slightly less for home care in Hickory ($4,385), and $664 less per month in Fayetteville. Goldsboro has some of the most affordable home care options, averaging $3,813 per month.

Home care in Gastonia costs $228 less than assisted living, which offers room and board plus help with the activities of daily living. Home health care services, which provide the same support as home care plus limited nursing services, is $99 more expensive than standard home care. The most affordable care option is adult day health care, which is delivered in community centers during business hours and costs just $1,192 per month. Round-the-clock supervision in a nursing home staffed by licensed nurses is the most costly senior care option, at around $3,100 per month more than home care.

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 to pay 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 nonmedical 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 services 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 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 tax-free portion of your home's equity in cash. 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 have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.