The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in New Haven, CT for 2024

Ranked as one of the best places for retirement in Caring’s 2022 Senior Living report, New Haven, Connecticut, appeals to active seniors as one of the state’s most walkable cities. Full of historic charm and home to Yale University, the city offers numerous cultural venues, shops and restaurants. Local transportation services are available to help seniors easily get around. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, residents pay around $5,243 per month for home care services. In-home care provides help for tasks such as housekeeping and personal care but doesn’t involve medical services like home health care does. However, New Haven is home to Yale New Haven Hospital — the world’s leading medical teaching facility.

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

Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that home care in the New Haven area costs around $5,243 per month, which is equivalent to the Connecticut state average and higher than the national median cost of $4,957. New Haven is a more affordable option than other cities in the state; seniors in the Norwich area pay about $5,506 per month, while those living in the state capital of Hartford pay $5,329. In the Bridgeport area, home care prices are set at $5,339 per month. 

Seniors in New Haven can choose from a range of care options, depending on their preferences, needs and budget. Adult day health care is the most affordable option at $1,885 per month, while a semiprivate room in a nursing home is the most expensive at $13,090. Assisted living has a median cost of $5,088. Home health care has average rates of $5,339, which includes skilled nursing and medical 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.