The 3 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Dunbar, WV for 2024

Located west of Charleston along the Kanawha River, Dunbar is a town of 7,480 residents where 23.7% of the population is over the age of 65, a higher concentration of seniors than the state and national averages. Overall, the city’s cost of living is more than 24% below the national average, and despite health care being one of the more costly categories in Dunbar, the city’s seniors spend about $3,527 per month on home care, which is $954 less than older adults throughout the country. In addition to Dunbar’s healthcare clinics and hospitals, the city’s seniors can visit nearby Charleston Area Medical Center, which is ranked as the second-best hospital in the state.

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

Results from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020 show that Dunbar’s seniors pay $3,527 per month for home care, which is the same as the average paid by seniors across the state, and they save about $954 a month compared to the nationwide median of $4,481. Costs in nearby cities vary from $3,241 in Beckley to $3,790 in Huntington. In Parkersburg, seniors pay $3,718, which is about $200 more than their peers in Dunbar.   

Considering that seniors pay $4,000 and $12,106 each month for assisted living and nursing home care, respectively, the $3,527 cost for in-home care makes it one of the most affordable options in Dunbar. The cost is identical for home health care, which includes many of the same services. However, it also provides medical services, including visits from registered nurses and rehabilitative specialists, so it may cost more in some areas. Data for adult day health care wasn’t available, but the state’s $2,243 median cost implies that it’s the least expensive type of care in Dunbar. 

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.