The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Morro Bay, CA for 2024

The 2020 Census found that 31% of Morro Bay’s 10,747 residents are aged 65 and older, a percentage that’s around double the average for California and the United States and suggests the coastal city is especially senior-friendly. Home care and home health care agencies serve the older population, with the latter offering limited medical support in addition to home care. The typical fee for home care in Morro Bay is $5,911 per month, an above-average fee for California. Urgent Care of Morro Bay is the primary medical facility in the city, with nearby San Luis Obispo being home to several others, such as the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and the French Hospital Medical Center.

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

The 2020 Genworth Cost of Care Survey reveals Morro Bay to be at the high end of the scale for home care costs in California and even less affordable when compared to the national average. However, when compared to the nearest cities in the region included in the survey, Morro Bay’s costs are among the most attractive. Only Bakersfield has lower fees, at $5,077, while in Salinas, seniors typically pay $6,006, and in Santa Maria, $6,101.

The Genworth survey doesn’t include adult day care costs, although the state average of $2,058 in nearby Santa Maria may give some indication of the likely fees. Other options include assisted living, at $5,800, and nursing home care, at $10,038 for a semiprivate room. Home care agencies typically charge $5,911 for their services, while home health agencies are likely to add another $190 per month to that fee for visits from medical professionals.

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.