In-Home Care in Louisiana

Louisiana has a relatively large senior population, as 15.9% of its more than 4.6 million residents are 65 and over. There are multiple reasons Louisiana may appeal to older adults, including financial benefits. Social Security and public pension income isn’t taxed, and the cost of living in Louisiana is lower than the national average. There are top-rated hospitals in the state, including Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge and Willis Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport.

The average cost of home care in Louisiana is $3,623 per month. Home care — also called in-home care — differs from home health care in multiple ways. In-home caregivers provide companionship and help with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), which include companionship, bathing, dressing, meal preparation and shopping — among other tasks. Home health care is a medical service; caregivers may dress wounds, administer medications and therapies, monitor vital signs and provide other health-related services.

This guide provides costs and comparisons for home care in Louisiana. You’ll also find information about applying for Medicaid and a list of free resources for seniors.

As reported by the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, in-home care costs $3,623 per month in Louisiana. The national median cost is higher at $4,957, as is Oklahoma’s estimated cost of $4,862 per month. Other states also have a higher average monthly cost for in-home care, including Texas ($4,576) and Arkansas ($4,185). Mississippi and Alabama both have an average monthly cost of $3,813 for home care, which is about $200 more than the Louisiana average.

Louisiana’s cities vary when it comes to in-home care costs. New Orleans’ cost is the highest on our list at $4,195, while Lake Charles is close behind with an estimated monthly cost of $3,909 for in-home care. Baton Rouge and Lafayette share an estimated cost of $3,813, while seniors in Shreveport can expect to pay $3,241 for home care.

There are other care types for older adults to consider. In addition to in-home care ($3,623), there’s home health care ($3,718) for seniors aging in place who need medical services. Adult day health care is less expensive ($1,788) and is an option for seniors in need of daytime medical care. Assisted living ($3,748) is an option for seniors who need assistance with daily activities and prefer to live in a senior community, while nursing home care ($5,759) in a semiprivate room is the most comprehensive and costly care type.

Louisiana Medicaid covers in-home care through several waiver programs. Seniors who receive Medicaid may also qualify for additional services through one or more of these programs, which provide in-home assistance with ADLs and related tasks.

The Long-Term Personal Care Services Program (LT-PCS) is for Medicaid recipients in need of at-home assistance with everyday tasks. The Community Choices Waiver (CCW) is similar but also provides health-based services as well. Another program through which seniors can receive home care is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which provides a wide variety of other care types including skilled nursing and adult day health care.

Seniors can apply for Medicaid online through the Louisiana Department of Health’s self-service webpage. If you prefer in-person help, visit a Medicaid application center. Some of these centers serve residents on a walk-in basis while others require appointments, so call ahead. Telephone applications can be taken through Healthy Louisiana Enrollment at (855) 229-6848. Paper applications can be printed and mailed, faxed or delivered to your local Medicaid application center.

What Information You Will Need

There are certain documents you’ll need to include with your Medicaid application. This includes:

• Identification
• Social Security card
• Proof of income
• Employer information
• Copies of insurance policies

In general, Medicare does not cover the cost of non-medical home care. That being said, there are situations in which Medicare provides some coverage for medical home care, referred to as “Home Healthcare.” There are several eligibility restrictions for coverage, including that individuals must be homebound and have a referral from their doctor specifically for home healthcare services.

Below is an overview of some of the skilled medical professionals whose in-home services are typically covered by Medicare – for more in-depth information, refer to our Guide to Home Healthcare.

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis, and assist in recovery from surgeries and procedures such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Visiting Nurses: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services for those who don’t need to stay in the hospital, but do need regular medical services such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.
• Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities.
• Speech Therapists: Speech therapists help seniors who are struggling to adequately communicate due to a stroke, dementia, or any other cause regain the ability to functionally communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets, teaching special techniques to swallow safely, and retraining associated muscles.

As mentioned above, in-home care is distinctly different from home healthcare. But, there can be some overlap in services between the two types of care. So, while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical in-home care, there are in-home care services that may be covered in special circumstances when they’re provided in conjunction with home healthcare (such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing)

To find quality home care providers near you, simply input the zip code or city where you would like to start your search. We have an extensive directory of home care agencies all across the nation that includes in-depth information about each provider and hundreds of thousands of reviews from seniors and their loved ones.