The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in St Helena, CA for 2024

Cities with more seniors typically provide additional resources to satisfy their older citizens, and St. Helena, where the 65+ age group is almost a third of the population, is no exception. More than 20 home care agencies in the city deliver non-medical support to seniors struggling with everyday living tasks, such as housekeeping. They shouldn’t be confused with home health care agencies, which provide home-appropriate medical care. The 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey results reveal that the median fee for home care services in St. Helena is $6,435, which is around 5.2% more than the national average — an increase many seniors are prepared to pay to reside in the beautiful Napa Valley.

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

According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, St. Helena’s monthly fee for home care averages $6,435, which is $334 more than California’s median and $1,478 greater than the country’s norm. Although costlier, it’s not the highest fee in Northern California, as San Jose’s seniors typically pay $7,102. However, more affordable cities are nearby, such as Santa Rosa, where the median is $6,292 per month. Even greater savings are possible for seniors in Vallejo, where the average is $5,958.

Although home and home health care agencies deliver different services, with the former non-medical and the latter medical, they average the same fee of $6,435 per month. This isn’t as affordable as adult day health’s median of $2,275 or assisted living’s $6,300, but neither of those services is as personalized as home care. The costliest option in St. Helena is nursing home care, where a typical semiprivate room costs around $10,646 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.