The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Madison, AL for 2024

The city of Huntsville, Alabama, is ranked 77th on Caring’s 2019 Senior Living report. With a vibrant and diverse community, Huntsville has the distinction of being the best place to live in the United States, according to a ranking by the US News & World Report. Affordable housing, quality of life, and low cost of living make this city an appealing choice for senior citizens. Its many natural parks and reserves, museums and art centers together offer a wealth of resources for those aged 60 and older. The 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey put the median cost of home care in Huntsville at $4,004 per month. Although home care does not include medical services, Huntsville has some of the finest facilities for geriatric care, including the Huntsville Hospital, the Center For Elder Care, and the Crestwood Medical Center.

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

Median monthly home care costs in Huntsville, Alabama, stand at $4,004 per month, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2021. This is how the figure stacks with some of its closest neighbors. Home care costs in Gadsden, Alabama, come to $3,811 per month. The figure for Decatur, Alabama, is $3,956, while residents in Florence, Alabama, pay $3,575 per month. The national median home care cost for families stands at $4,957 per month, roughly $1,000 more than the city’s average cost. 

Home care entails non-medical services that seek to make everyday life healthy and comfortable for senior citizens. It includes tasks like household cleaning, personal hygiene and meal preparation. Home health care, on the other hand, involves medical services from a visiting doctor, trained therapist or registered nurse. Home health services in Huntsville stand at $4,004 in median monthly costs, the same as home care services. Adult day health care services will cost you $1,138, while assisted living facilities charge $3,345 per month. Nursing home care in a semiprivate room comes to $6,844 in median monthly costs. 

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.