The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Port Charlotte, FL for 2024

Nestled by the banks of the Peace River, Port Charlotte, Florida, is ranked on Caring’s Senior Living Report as a great place for seniors to retire. The city boasts lower crime and housing costs, less traffic congestion and higher water quality. Port Charlotte has a small-town feel, plenty of outdoor activities and a downtown area popular for its wealth of small, family-owned stores, excellent seafood restaurants and numerous coffee shops. There are several hospitals in the city, including Fawcett Hospital, which U.S. News and World Report rates as high-performing in three procedures.

Seniors who require medical treatments that can be delivered at home have many home health care agencies to choose from. Those who need help with daily living functions have numerous home care agencies at their disposal for approximately $4,767 per month. Home health care is available for those who need light medical services, as well.

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

As Port Charlotte is on the opposite side of the Peace River from Punta Gorda, the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey combines both data sets to report an average home care cost of $4,767. This equals the state median and saves seniors approximately $190 per month compared to the national average. Port Charlotte compares favorably with some nearby cities, such as North Port ($5,720) and Cape Coral ($5,196). Moving inland, seniors in Sebring share Port Charlotte’s median fee, while on the opposite coast, Port St. Lucie’s pay less, at $4,671.

Home care costs cover nonmedical one-on-one personal care services. Other providers of similar services have lower fees due to the much wider senior-to-caregiver ratio, such as adult day care ($1,560) and assisted living ($3,350). Medical care providers include home health care agencies, typically charging $4,957 for home-appropriate care, such as speech therapy and wound care. Port Charlotte’s nursing homes deliver higher levels of medical care for approximately $9,186 per month.

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.