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How Much Does Dementia Home Care Cost?
Date Updated: December 12, 2024
Written by:
Sarah has produced thousands of articles in diverse niches over her decade-long career as a full-time freelance writer. This includes substantial content in the fields of senior care and health care. She has experience writing about wide-ranging topics, such as types of care, care costs, funding options, state Medicaid programs and senior resources.
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Gene Altaffer has a Masters in Gerontology from the University of Southern California and has worked in many avenues along the continuum of long-term care, assisting thousands of clients and their families since 1995. He also sold long-term care insurance from numerous carriers while also assisting families with retirement planning. Gene helps seniors navigate their Medicare plans, ensuring they understand their benefits and options.
Dementia home care costs roughly $30 per hour in 2024, per data from Genworth Financial. However, as the U.S. median rate, this price fluctuates widely around the nation. Exact costs also depend on the specific services an individual needs and how often they require home care visits.
In-Home Dementia Care Costs Around the Country
Home care agencies charge about $30 hourly, which equates to $5,720 per month for those who need 44 hours of weekly care. Individuals who only need two hours of support each day of the week can expect to pay around $1,820 per month, while those who require 24/7 assistance typically pay almost $22,000 monthly.
However, median costs differ widely among states. At the lower end of the cost scale, hourly base rates run $15 in Mississippi, $19 in Arkansas and $20 in Oklahoma. At the opposite end, some of the priciest areas for dementia home care include Montana, New Mexico and Washington, where agencies charge roughly $50, $45 and $44, respectively. Price variations also exist among cities.
How Dementia Disease Progression Affects Home Care Costs
Because seniors require more hands-on and emotional support as dementia progresses, care costs increase in line with growing support needs. For example, those in the early stages of disease progression might only require a few weekly hours of companionship, which may slow cognitive decline. As symptoms develop, individuals commonly need practical help managing personal and oral hygiene routines, medication reminders and assistance with household tasks.
Those with late-stage dementia often need 24/7 supervision to prevent wandering, falls, anxiety and other challenging symptoms. They may also require continence care and almost full aid with everyday activities. Importantly, regular home care doesn’t include medical or therapeutic services, often needed by people in the later stages of dementia. Such individuals may also need home health care services, which attract a median hourly fee of $33 across the United States. Alternatively, moving to a memory care facility offers specialized support and around-the-clock monitoring.