The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Crystal Lake, IL for 2024

Crystal Lake, home to 40,000 residents and a senior community that makes up 15.4% of the population — slightly less than their national proportion of 16.5% — is sought out by retirees for its low crime rate and access to community-based services and programs. It’s located within the Chicago metro area and is close to some of the best hospitals in the state, including the nationally recognized Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital and Good Shepherd Hospital, both of which are within 10 miles.

The city supports its older residents through numerous home care agencies. These agencies enable many to age in place by administering nonmedical services such as help with personal care and light housework. They charge approximately $5,672 per month. This is affordable compared to home health care, which includes skilled nursing services.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Crystal Lake– 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, which bases home care costs in Crystal Lake on rates in nearby Chicago, shows that local seniors pay $5,672 for in-home care. This is several hundred dollars higher than the state norm and about $700 higher than the national average. In Kankakee and Bloomington, home care agencies charge considerably less. Kankakee is $524 less expensive per month and Bloomington is $619 less per month. In Danville, monthly care costs are over $3,000 more expensive than Crystal Lake. 

Crystal Lake seniors pay approximately $5,672 monthly for in-home care, which includes nonmedical supportive services. This is about $850 higher than assisted living costs and about three times the cost of adult day care. Seniors pay about $50 more for home health care, which differs from home care in that it includes skilled nursing and some medical care. Nursing home care is the costliest, at over $1,300 more per month 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.