The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Gaithersburg, MD for 2024

Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a bustling city in Montgomery County. The city has 69,101 residents, 12.7% of whom are seniors aged 65 and older — slightly under the national average of 16.5%. Still, seniors have ready access to useful services such as Maryland Department of Aging and a variety of activities. Located 23 miles north of Washington, DC, Gaithersburg appeals to older adults looking for easy access to big-city amenities, such as hospitals and restaurants. The renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital is located nearby in Baltimore and Inova Fairfax Hospital, which is nationally ranked for obstetrics, is located in Washington, DC.

Seniors in Gaithersburg pay on average $5,339 for home care, which is higher than both the state and national averages, but this may be due to proximity to the capital. Home care services are for seniors who require personal care, whereas home health care is for seniors who need light medical services as well.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Gaithersburg– 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.

As Gaithersburg is located so close to Washington D.C, the cities share the same cost data per the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. Costs in Gaithersburg are on average $191 higher than the state average and $382 higher than the national average. In the northeast of the state in Baltimore and in the east in Salisbury, home care costs equal the national average. In the south, in California, home care costs are the most affordable in the state, costing $763 less than in Gaithersburg. At $5,148, the cost of home care in Hagerstown is equal to the state average.

Seniors in Gaithersburg pay around $5,339 for home care and home health care. Home care includes personal care, whereas home health care includes medical assistance provided by nurses and therapists. The cheapest care option is adult health care, which costs around $3,050 less than home care. Seniors pay around $600 more than home care for assisted living, and $6,130 more for a semiprivate room in a nursing home.

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.