The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Grand Junction, CO for 2024

Grand Junction, a city in western Colorado, has around 66,964 residents. A total of 19.2% of the population is seniors aged 65 and over — higher than the national proportion of roughly 17%. Surrounded by rivers, lakes and wildlife, the city offers a moderate cost of living and access to medical facilities. SCL Health St. Mary’s Medical Center is located in the north of the city and is ranked as high performing in six adult procedures.

According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors pay around $5,434 for home care. While this is higher than the national average, it’s also lower than the Colorado state average. Home care involves personal care, such as dressing and bathing. In contrast, home health care further includes light medical services, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Grand Junction– 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 cost of home care in Grand Junction is around $950 lower than the state average and $500 higher than the national average. Elsewhere in the state, prices remain relatively high, with seniors in Denver and Boulder paying around $1,350 more per month than seniors in Grand Junction. In the south of the state in Pueblo, monthly home care costs are slightly less expensive, costing around $5,434. In northern Colorado in Fort Collins, care is around $650 more expensive than in Grand Junction but still less expensive than the state average.

Seniors in Grand Junction have access to a variety of care options. Both home care and home health care cost around $5,434 per month in Grand Junction, even though home health care also includes light medical services. The least expensive option is adult day care, which costs around $4,250 less per month than home care. Assisted living costs around $1,200 less than home care, even though it provides community living. For seniors who require skilled nursing care, nursing homes cost around $8,456 per month — a whopping $3,000 more than home care. 

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.