The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Elwood, IN for 2024

Straddling Madison and Tipton Counties, Elwood is a city of just over 8,400 residents, 14.5% of whom are seniors. Its small size contributes to the strong community vibe, and its location is ideal for seniors who prefer relatively quiet cities within an hour of more populated areas, such as Anderson and Indianapolis. The main medical facility is St. Vincent Mercy Hospital, a well-respected amenity with a 24/7 emergency room. Elwood is also well-served by home care agencies providing seniors with non-medical support and home health agencies specializing in basic medical care. The average fee for home care in Elwood is $4,576 per month, which is more affordable than the norm for Indiana.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Elwood 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 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey shows the typical Elwood senior pays $4,576 per month for home care, saving $191 and $381 compared to the state and national averages, respectively. Except for Muncie, where seniors typically pay $4,385, Elwood is the most affordable city within an 80-minute radius of its boundaries. The region’s costlier alternatives include Lafayette and Indianapolis, both of which average $5,053, and Fort Wayne, which has a median fee of $5,339.

Despite home care and home health care providing different services (the former, non-medical, and the latter, medical), both average the same fee of $4,576 per month. The Genworth survey doesn’t include a median price for adult day health, but the state average of $1,733 should indicate the likely cost. At $3,250, assisted living is the most affordable option that includes care and accommodation, while nursing homes are the costliest, at $7,908 for a semiprivate room.

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.