The Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Honolulu, HI for 2025

The average monthly cost of home care in Honolulu is equal to the state average in Hawaii, but significantly higher than the U.S. national average. Slightly lower costs are found in the Kahului area on the island of Hawaii. Due to the limited geographical area, all cost care data for Hawaii in the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey is based on rates in either the Honolulu or Kahului areas.

Home care in Honolulu costs an average of $345 more than assisted living and far less than a semiprivate room in a nursing home. Adult day programs are less than half the cost of full-time care provided by a nursing home, but they are generally only offered during weekday business hours and require travel to a community center and participation in organized recreational activities. Home care has the same average cost as home health care, which may include administering insulin and medication, taking vital signs, wound care and providing physical occupational or speech therapy services. 

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.