The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Merriam, KS for 2024

Merriam, Kansas, is a lively suburb in the Kansas City metro area. Home to just over 11,000 residents, Merriam has a senior community that covers approximately 16.6% of its total population, similar to the national average of 16.8%. The nearest hospital, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, received multiple quality awards. Merriam also offers restaurants, shops, and other local attractions. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors in this area pay an average of $4,957 monthly for home care. Though different than home health care, which includes medical services, home care provides seniors with companionship and assistance with everyday tasks.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Merriam 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 notes seniors in the Kansas City, Missouri region pay around $4,957 per month for in-home care. This is greater than the state median for Kansas at $4,576 per month but equal to the national median. Several nearby areas have lower monthly median rates than Kansas City, such as Wichita and Lawrence at $4,767. However, seniors in Topeka will likely pay a higher rate at $5,625 per month.

Seniors have many care options available to them around Merriam. Both home care and home health care, which includes medical services from trained nurses and therapists, costs approximately $4,957 per month. Assisted living facilities charge a lower monthly median rate of $4,585. Adult day care is also a more affordable option at around $1,733 per month. A final, more costly alternative is a nursing home facility, where a semiprivate room has an average cost of $6,464 per month.

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.