The Best In-Home Care Services for Seniors in Atascadero, CA for 2023

Atascadero is a large community of about 30,000 people, 17% of whom are seniors, in the San Luis Obispo metro area. Housing prices in this city are below the state norm, making it a financially viable long-term option for many seniors, and low crime rates provide peace of mind to those who live alone. Several hospitals are located within driving distance, including Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton and Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, along with numerous home care agencies. On average, in-home care costs $7,150 per month in this city and includes nonmedical services, such as personal care and housekeeping. It differs from home health care, which includes these services along with skilled nursing.

Below we've compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Atascadero 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.

Seniors in Atascadero pay $7,150 per month on average for in-home care, according to information in the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. This is about $1,000 more than the California norm, and it exceeds the national rate by about $2,200. Seniors in surrounding cities typically pay lower monthly fees for in-home care, including Santa Maria, where rates are about 7% less than in Atascadero, and Merced, where monthly fees come in 12% below Atascadero’s average. Similarly, seniors in Oxnard pay about $1,335 less for care than home care clients in Atascadero, and in Bakersfield, rates are even lower at $5,506.

In Atascadero, home care clients pay $7,150 per month for nonmedical services. While home health care agencies typically charge higher monthly rates for specialized care, local agencies charge the same average fee for either option. Assisted living residents pay about $1,850 less on care than those who obtain in-home care, but nursing home care is considerably costlier at $10,038.

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 to pay 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 nonmedical 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 services 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 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 tax-free portion of your home's equity in cash. 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 have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.