The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Pocatello, ID for 2024

Pocatello is a charming mountain town sought out for its vibrant scenery, unique festivals and fairs and picturesque parks. It has a senior community that accounts for nearly 14% of its 56,000 residents. While this is small relative to national norms, amenities such as the local senior center, Portneuf Medical Center and numerous home care agencies foster a welcoming environment for older adults. Seniors in this city pay approximately $5,339 per month for in-home care, which includes nonmedical services, such as transportation, personal care and meal preparation. Home health care, which includes these services along with skilled nursing services, is available for the same monthly rate. 

Below we've compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Pocatello 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.

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that seniors in Pocatello pay $5,339 per month for full-time in-home care. While this is about $380 over the national norm, it’s in line with the state’s average rate of $5,435. Seniors in Twin Falls typically pay about $570 less for this level of care than Pocatello residents, and in Lewiston, care costs are even more competitive at $4,576. However, rates in Pocatello are economical compared to Idaho Falls, where agencies charge $5,720, and Coeur d’Alene, where fees exceed Pocatello’s average by $476 monthly.

Pocatello seniors who obtain private care services at home pay $5,339 for nonmedical in-home care. Home health care, which includes skilled nursing services, such as medication administration and disease monitoring, has the same monthly rate. Seniors who access personal care in residential facilities pay $4,206 for assisted living, and those who attend adult day health care as an alternative to private in-home care pay much lower rates of $1,083 per month. Nursing home care is considerably costlier than in-home care at $7,604 for semiprivate accommodations.

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 to pay 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 nonmedical 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 services 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 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 tax-free portion of your home's equity in cash. 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 have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.