The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Merrillville, IN for 2024

Caring.com offers a free service to help families find senior care and authentic reviews to help you in your decision. On average in Merrillville, IN, residents and their loved ones rate In Home Care agencies 4.9 out of 5 stars across the 27 options below.

The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that home care agencies in Merrillville charge $5,625 monthly for full-time care, which is hundreds of dollars higher than the Indiana average of $4,767 and the national norm of $4,957. In Elkhart, rates are about $140 over Merrillville’s norm, but other cities in northern Indiana have more competitive home care costs. Agencies in Fort Wayne charge $5,339 for services, and in Lafayette, care costs are about $600 lower than the Merrillville average. Kokomo is among the most economical places for seniors who live at home, with agencies charging $4,576 per month for nonmedical care.

In Merrillville, seniors pay $5,625 per month for nonmedical home care services. This is about $2,000 higher than the cost of assisted living, which includes housing, along with personal care and daily meals. However, in-home care is considerably more affordable than nursing home care, which costs $8,456 per month. Home health care, which includes skilled nursing services in the individual’s home, costs the same as home care, although some agencies charge more for specialized 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 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.