The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Ridgefield, CT for 2024
Ridgefield is slightly over an hour’s drive from Connecticut’s state capital, Hartford, and roughly 90 minutes from NYC. Like most other cities in this part of Connecticut, Ridgefield has very high housing costs. The city’s also home to a higher-than-average percentage of seniors at 19.6%. Danbury Hospital, which draws high marks from U.S. News and World Report, is located 10 miles to Ridgefield’s north.
According to the 2021 Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey, seniors in Ridgefield pay an average of $5,339 a month for home care services focused on activities of daily living. Home health care, which offers more skilled medical services, costs the same.
Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Ridgefield– 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.
Home Care Agencies in Ridgefield, CT
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What you can do with Caring
Paying for Home Care in Ridgefield, CT
The Cost of Home Care in Ridgefield, CT
Across the United States, the average monthly price for home care is $4,957, which is hundreds of dollars cheaper than any specific city in Connecticut. According to Genworth’s data, Norwich is the only Connecticut city that reports a higher average monthly price for home care than Ridgefield. New Haven’s average monthly price is identical to Connecticut’s state average of $5,243. Hartford, the state’s capital, is just barely cheaper than Ridgefield.Â
Ridgefield
$5,339
Connecticut
$5,243
The United States
$4,957
Hartford
$5,329
New Haven
$5,243
Norwich
$5,506
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Ridgefield, CT
Adult day health care is the least expensive care option for Ridgefield seniors, but most such programs have severely limited hours of operation and are only open to ambulatory seniors. Assisted living is 15% more expensive than home care on a monthly basis, as the cost generally includes the price of room and board. Nursing home care provides the highest level of medical support but is over three times as expensive as home-based care.
Home Care
$5,339
Home Health Care
$5,339
Adult Day Health Care
$1,619
Assisted Living
$6,273
Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)
$16,805
Note: Data for Ridgefield was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Bridgeport, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Ridgefield, CT
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.
Ridgefield Home Care Resources
Home care services are only one of the pieces needed for seniors to gracefully age in place. There are many services and programs that are low-cost or free, that enable seniors to enjoy an independent lifestyle in the comfort of their own home, such as help with home modifications, meal delivery services, and more. Below, we’ve compiled a few of the most helpful resources in Ridgefield:
Resource | Contact | Address | Service |
---|---|---|---|
Utility Bill Assistance and Weatherization | (203) 748-5422 | 66 North Street, Danbury, CT 06810 | The Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut (CAAWC) is responsible for managing the state’s energy assistance program in Ridgefield and the Greater Danbury Area. This program helps low-income residents pay for heating costs during winter, and can also lower utility bills by weatherizing the home. |
Congregate Dining and Meal Delivery for Seniors | (203) 757-5449 | 84 Progress Lane, Waterbury, CT 06705 | Ridgefield residents who are aged 60 or over may be eligible to receive nutritious meals in a community setting, such as a senior center, as well as home-delivered meals. The Elderly Nutrition Program is funded by the federal and state government and eligibility is not determined by income, although a small donation is encouraged. |
Founders Hall Senior Center | (203) 431-7000 | 193 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877 | Located just north of Ridgefield town center, Founders Hall offers many activities and events for seniors, such as fitness and nutrition programs that are appropriate for the age group. Other regular activities include art classes, writing workshops, films, dancing, quilting and knitting. |
CT Home Care Program for Elders | (203) 757-5449 | 84 Progress Lane, Waterbury, CT 06705 | The Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging is responsible for managing the state home care program for seniors in Ridgefield. Eligible residents receive support and necessary services in the home, which is designed to prevent premature placement in a nursing home. Asset limits apply. |
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – often times it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.
Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.