The 10 Best In-Home Care Services for Seniors in Birmingham, AL for 2023

Caring’s Senior Living Report ranks Birmingham as one of the best cities in the state for health care, senior living and quality of life. Senior residents have their medical needs met at one of several hospitals, including the highly rated University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital and Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham. Overall, the city is very affordable and its housing costs are less than a third of the national average.

Home care in Birmingham costs $4,242 on average, per month, while the corresponding price for home health care is $4,338. Home health care providers also include light medical services as opposed to the nonmedical care in-home care offers. Both types of care in Birmingham are priced significantly below the national average.

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

Compared to the Alabama average of $3,813, the median monthly home care rate in Birmingham of $4,242 is $429 higher. However, prices for in-home care in the city are well below the national median of $4,957. Seniors in Birmingham pay more for their in-home care than in the surrounding regions of Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Decatur. The rate of $2,955 found in Anniston is the lowest in the state.

Home health care in Houston costs $96 more each month than home care. Both types of care offer personal care services such as help with bathing and dressing, but home health aides are licensed to also offer light medical services. Birmingham assisted living facilities charge, on average, $4,338, each month, while the median cost for a semiprivate room in a nursing home is $6,768. Adult day health care is the least expensive option for older adults in Birmingham, at $867.

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.