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

Caring’s 2022 Senior Living Report for Waldorf, Maryland, rates the community the 5th best place overall for seniors in Maryland, 7th for health care and 2nd for affordability. It’s a historic place with two public libraries and a popular mall for those who prefer indoor leisure activities and several walking trails and lakes for those who enjoy outdoor pursuits. The community’s medical facilities include the University of Maryland Specialty Care at Waldorf and the UM Charles Medical Center in nearby La Plata. Seniors whose medical care can be delivered at home have several home health care agencies available, while those best served by nonmedical home care agencies can get assistance for approximately $5,339 per month.

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

Washington, D.C. is about 45 minutes from Waldorf, so the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey includes its cost data with the capital’s. This produces a monthly median fee of $5,339, exceeding the average fees for Maryland ($5,148) and the United States ($4,957). The survey also shows Waldorf is at the highest end of the cost spectrum, as the other surveyed cities are more affordable. Baltimore ($4,957), Hagerstown ($5,148), Cumberland ($4,957) and California ($4,576) have lower average home care fees than Waldorf. 

At $5,339, home care shares a monthly median fee with home health care. However, the latter includes medical services, such as wound care and speech therapy, delivered by registered nurses and therapists. Adult day care is cheaper than home care, at $2,282, but is unsuitable for homebound seniors. Assisted living is costlier than home care, at $5,948, and covers additional services but requires the senior to relocate. Nursing home care is also more expensive, at $11,467, but its services are primarily medical.

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.