The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Defiance, OH for 2024

Located in northwestern Ohio, Defiance is an exceptionally affordable Midwestern city. The overall cost of living is 27% below the national average and the cost of housing in particular is 57% below. According to U.S. Census data, 16,971 people live here, with the city’s senior percentage of 19.7% notably higher than the national senior percentage of 16.8%. The average monthly cost of home care in Defiance is $4,957, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, which is the same as the state and national averages. The price for home health care is even lower, despite including medical care. The area is served by Lima General Hospital, which gets high performance ratings from U.S. News and World Report for its COPD and cardiology-related care.

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

According to Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, Defiance’s monthly average cost for home care is identical to both the state and national averages. However, there’s a reasonable amount of cost variation within the state. Residents of the state capital Columbus see the highest average prices at $600 more than Defiance. Dayton is also more expensive at roughly $400 higher on average. In general, home care costs tend to be less expensive in Ohio’s northeast, where residents of Akron pay about $900 less per month for home care and Youngstown residents pay   nearly $700 less.

Assisted living is cheaper than home care in Defiance at $4,603 a month. Since home health care requires a higher level of medical involvement than regular home care, it’s usually more expensive. In Defiance, however, the average price of home health care is actually a few hundred dollars less than that of home care and much closer to the price of assisted living. Nursing home care is the most expensive option, with seniors seeing a monthly average cost of almost $2,200 more than home care. 

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.