The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Bangor, ME for 2024

With about 32,000 residents, Bangor, ME, is the third-largest city in the state. It supports a comfortable lifestyle for seniors, a demographic that’s 17% of its population, offering affordable housing, property tax relief programs and a comparatively high number of doctors per capita. Bangor also has several in-home care agencies that provide nonmedical services for seniors, helping many older adults remain in their homes throughout retirement. Monthly rates vary, and seniors in Bangor pay a median of $5,720 per month for full-time care. Seniors also pay the same monthly rate for home health care, which is similar to home care but includes skilled nursing services in addition to nonmedical care. 

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

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that Bangor residents pay $5,720 per month for private in-home care. Although this is significantly higher than the national average of $4,957, it’s consistent with home care costs in Maine as a whole. Local monthly rates are about $100 lower than in Portland, but seniors in Lewiston pay more economical fees of $5,339. Home care costs tend to be higher across state lines, with seniors in Manchester, NH, paying $6,149 for care and agencies in Boston, MA, charging $6,292.

Home care agencies in Bangor charge $5,720 per month for nonmedical care. While home health care clients pay the same average monthly rates for skilled nursing, agencies often charge more for this specialized level of care. Assisted living facilities charge about $1,000 less per month for personal care and housing, and those who obtain adult day health care as an alternative to private home care may save about $4,850 per month. Nursing home care is considerably costlier than home care at $10,585 per month.

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.