The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Cambridge, MA for 2024

The historically rich city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, is situated in the Boston metropolitan area and has about 120,000 inhabitants. While its senior community is small compared to state and national averages, accounting for less than 12% of the total population, there are numerous benefits for older adults who retire here. Violent and property crime is rarer here than in the state and nation as a whole, and weather is generally comfortable throughout the year. Two hospitals are located within the city proper, including Mount Auburn Hospital and CHA Cambridge Hospital, and there are about 75% more doctors per capita than in a typical U.S. city.

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey indicates that Cambridge is a relatively expensive option for home care, with agencies charging $6,292 for nonmedical services, such as transportation and meal preparation. Home health care, which is more suitable for older adults who need skilled nursing services such as disease monitoring and management, physical therapy and medication administration, is slightly less expensive.

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

Based on care costs in nearby Boston, average home care rates in Cambridge are estimated at $6,292 per month. This is about $1,300 more than the national average and a couple hundred more than the state average. The only surveyed city with higher monthly home care rates is Barnstable, where agencies charge nearly $400 more. In Worcester and Pittsfield, care costs are roughly $600 less. In Springfield, rates are nearly $1,000 lower than in Cambridge. 

Home care agencies in Cambridge charge $6,292 monthly for nonmedical services such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and help with personal care activities. Home health care agencies provide these services along with skilled nursing services such as wound care and vitals monitoring. Despite this, average home health care costs trend about $50 lower per month. Adult day care is about $4,700 less per month than home care, while assisted living and nursing home care are both more expensive. 

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.