The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Bel Air, MD for 2024

Q: What types of services can a home care agency in Bel Air, MD, provide?

<a href="https://www.caring.com/senior-care/in-home-care/">Home care agencies</a> in Bel Air provide two categories of services: companion care and personal care. Companion care includes escort and transportation services for medical appointments, conversation, meal and snack preparation and light housekeeping. Personal care services include help with daily activities such as getting dressed, bathing, toileting and grooming. Both types of services can help older adults remain comfortable and safe at home. Caregivers aren’t licensed to provide skilled nursing services such as medication administration or wound care. Home care agencies can also provide long-term care or intermittent respite services for families.

Q: What should I look for in a good home care agency near me in Bel Air, MD?

When researching home care agencies in Bel Air, it’s helpful to consider factors such as how many caregivers a given company has, how much they charge for services, whether the company is bonded and insured and the process they use for creating and updating care plans. It’s also a good idea to read consumer reviews to gauge the quality of care an agency provides.

Q: How do you pay for senior care at home?

Before choosing a home care agency, it’s important for the individual to determine how they will <a href="https://www.caring.com/senior-care/in-home-care/how-to-pay/">pay for services</a>. Beyond using funds from income streams such as Social Security benefits, pensions, dividends from investments and withdrawals from retirement savings, seniors have options such as collective sibling agreements, life insurance living benefits and annuities. For those who own their home, taking out a reverse mortgage can provide the money they need for care while letting them continue living in their home.

Q: Who is eligible for the veterans’ home care program?

The <a href="https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Homemaker_and_Home_Health_Aide_Care.asp">veterans’ home care program</a> provides in-home services to veterans who need help with daily living activities due to age or impairment. To be eligible for this program, veterans must qualify for <a href="https://www.va.gov/COMMUNITYCARE/programs/veterans/General_Care.asp">community care</a>, meaning that they qualify for VA-funded services but instead of obtaining care in a VA clinic, they access them through a community provider. Applicants must also meet the clinical criteria for the services they’re seeking. Depending on whether they qualify for VA service-connected disability compensation, program participants may have to pay a co-pay toward their care costs.

Q: Assisted living homes vs. home care: how to decide?

<a href="https://www.caring.com/senior-living/assisted-living/">Assisted living</a> and home care provide comparable levels of care but in different settings. Assisted living is ideal for seniors at risk of social isolation. It’s also the more affordable option in Bel Air, costing $4,750 per month. This rate includes personal care, living expenses, meals and recreational activities. However, home care is often the preferred choice of older adults who want to continue living in the privacy and comfort of their own homes. While this option is costlier than assisted living, accessing community-based services can make monthly fees more manageable.

With about 11,000 people total, Bel Air is home to a large senior population that makes up nearly 22% of residents, promoting the need for in-home care solutions. UM Upper Chesapeake Health is a 243-bed hospital located within the city. Health care costs trend a little below national norms, and the city’s overall cost of living is about 10% higher than national norms. While housing costs are high compared to state norms, programs such as the Senior Citizen and Veteran Tax Credit may make Bel Air an affordable place for seniors. Local home care, which is aimed at those who do not need medical services, costs $4,957 per month. For those who need skilled nursing, home health care may be a better option.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Bel Air 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.

Home Care Agencies in Bel Air, MD

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Paying for Home Care in Bel Air, MD

The Cost of Home Care in Bel Air, MD

Seniors in Bel Air pay $4,957 per month for in-home care, which is equal to the national norm but a couple hundred dollars below Maryland’s norm of $5,148. In Hagerstown, rates are about $190 more than in Bel Air, but other nearby cities have more affordable monthly rates. In York, PA, rates average $4,767, and in Winchester, VA, seniors pay $4,671. In the Maryland city of California, rates are nearly $400 less than in Bel Air.

Bel Air

$4,957

Maryland

$5,148

The United States

$4,957

Hagerstown, MD

$5,148

California, MD

$4,576

York, PA

$4,767

Winchester, VA

$4,671

The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Bel Air, MD

In Bel Air, home care agencies charge $4,957 for nonmedical care, and agencies that provide skilled nursing charge $5,053 for home health care. Assisted living is a little more affordable at $4,750 per month, and adult day health care is the most cost-effective option at $1,927. Even so, home care is a budget-friendly alternative to nursing home care, which costs $10,798 for semiprivate accommodations.

Home Care

$4,957

Home Health Care

$5,053

Adult Day Health Care

$1,927

Assisted Living

$4,750

Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)

$10,798

Note: Data for Bel Air was not available, so data for the nearest city, Baltimore, was used instead.

Financial Assistance for Home Care in Bel Air, MD

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.

Free & Low-Cost Home Care Resources in Bel Air, MD

Bel Air offers numerous services and programs for older adults who want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. The following table highlights top resources for seniors in the region that provide supportive services such as home-delivered meals, housekeeping and transportation.

Resource	Contact	Service
Harford County Office on Aging	(410) 638-2371	The Harford County Office on Aging operates a congregate lunch program for older adults, supporting their nutritional needs and helping those who live alone to avoid isolation and loneliness. The agency also publishes information on local resources such as the Telephone Assurance Program, transportation services and financial and legal assistance.
Energy Assistance Program	(410) 836-4700	The Energy Assistance Program helps qualifying individuals with burdensome utility bills, helping them avoid disruptions in their service. Payments are made directly to the utility company on the resident’s behalf, with the program providing up to $2,000 to help program participants with past-due bills.
Weatherization Program	(410) 285-4674	Through the Weatherization Program, seniors can maintain a safe and comfortable environment at home. This program includes energy audits and efficiency measures such as insulation upgrades, installation of energy-efficient light bulbs, furnace cleaning and tune-up and smoke and carbon monoxide detector installations. Seniors must meet income-based eligibility requirements.
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland	(410) 838-0013	Meals on Wheels provides nutrition services to Bel Air seniors at risk of hunger. Meals include a main course, fruit and vegetable sides, bread or starchy vegetables and milk. In addition to meal services, the organization provides a friendly phone call program, wellness and safety checks and pet food deliveries.
McFaul Activity Center	(410) 638-4040	The McFaul Activity Center is a city-run senior center that hosts blood pressure clinics, wellness screenings, book clubs, art classes and table games, offering a social environment for seniors. The center is open daily, and membership is free.
Property Tax Exemption	(410) 638-3450	Veterans and those aged 65 and over who own their home may be eligible for the Senior Citizen and Veteran Tax Credit. This 20% tax credit is available to those who meet certain criteria including having a home valued at no more than $600,000 or having served in the U.S. armed forces.

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.

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Checklist for determining the need for in-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.

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Talking with family and others about a loved one's needs

The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Bel Air, MD for 2024