The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Athens, GA for 2024

Athens, Georgia, is part of Clarke County, so the census lists a combined population of around 127,000 people, 10.9% of which are senior citizens (well below the national average of 16.8%). Athens is a historic city that is home to the University of Georgia. Its cost of living falls below the national average by almost 13 points. Health care options are plentiful, with hospitals like Piedmont Athens Regional, which offers primary and emergency care along with a Level 2 Trauma Center and many specialties. Athens’s comfort index is higher than the U.S. average, and the city averages 216 sunny days per year with mild to warm temperatures. Seniors in Athens can expect to pay $4,528 a month for home care, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Athens– 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.

Home care costs in Athens, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, are higher than the Georgia national average by $238 but lower than the national average by more than $400. Compared to other Georgia cities, Athens’s home care prices are a little high. Augusta to the east is equivalent, but Atlanta to the southwest offers costs that are lower by $238. Columbus is on par with Atlanta, but Milledgeville and other Macon-area cities are even less expensive, coming in $715 below Athens’s rates.

Athens’s home care costs run a bit more than other care options, so seniors should be mindful of this as they choose what is best for them. Nursing home care is the most expensive option, over $2,400 higher than home care, but assisted living is actually lower than home care by $344. Seniors who are willing to move may want to consider assisted living. Adult day programming is quite inexpensive by comparison but does not provide in-home care. Home health care is on par with home care but has a more medically focused range of services.

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.