The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Palm Springs, CA for 2024

In Palm Springs, which is home to nearly 45,000 people, seniors make up nearly a third of the population. This is about double the statewide median, promoting access to social opportunities and community-based programs for retirees. The city is a prime retirement destination for those seeking a comfortable climate and easy access to amenities such as public transportation. It is among the cheaper places to live in California, with affordable housing. It’s also home to Desert Regional Medical Center, a 385-bed facility with a Level II Trauma Center.

Several home care agencies serve seniors in Palm Springs, providing access to in-home services such as meal preparation, personal care and companionship. On average, these agencies charge $6,387 per month for care. They don’t provide skilled nursing services, such as wound care and medication administration, but seniors can get these services through home health care agencies.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Palm Springs– 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 the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey, which estimates long-term care costs in Palm Springs based on averages in nearby San Diego, home care agencies in Palm Springs charge $6,387 per month for services. This is over $200 higher than the California average and about $1,400 higher than the national norm, and it’s considerably higher than rates in nearby cities. In Riverside, agencies charge about $200 less for services. Seniors in Los Angeles pay about $500 less per month for care, and in El Centro, rates are nearly $3,000 lower. 

Home care agencies charge $6,387 per month for care, and home health care agencies, which provide skilled nursing services at home, charge about $100 more. Assisted living is a budget-friendly alternative to in-home care, with rates coming in about $900 less per month, and adult day health care offers an even higher monthly savings of $4,300. Nursing home care, which offers around-the-clock medical care and monitoring, costs about $3,000 more per month 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.