The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Amesbury, MA for 2024
Amesbury offers convenient access to major roadways, recreational amenities and health care options in the northern region of the Boston metro, making it a prime retirement option for active seniors. The town is listed on the AARP Age-Friendly Network and creates a welcoming environment for seniors, an age group that makes up 16% of its 17,000 residents, through a comparatively modest cost of living and comfortable weather throughout the year. The town also has several home care agencies that provide private nonmedical services in clients’ homes, letting them maintain their independence throughout retirement. This type of care costs $6,292 per month, which is a little higher than what agencies charge for home health care, an option that includes skilled nursing services.
Below we've compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Amesbury 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.
Home Care Agencies in Amesbury, MA
25 Results
What you can do with Caring
Paying for Home Care in Amesbury, MA
The Cost of Home Care in Amesbury, MA
The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that seniors in Amesbury pay $6,292 per month for full-time in-home care. This is 6% higher than the state average and about 27% higher than the national norm, and it exceeds care costs in most other surveyed cities across Massachusetts. For example, in Worcester, monthly care costs are about $570 less than in Amesbury, and in Pittsfield, monthly fees are nearly $670 less. Similarly, in Springfield, rates are about 11% below Amesbury’s average, although seniors in Barnstable Town pay comparatively high rates of $6,673 for care.
Amesbury
$6,292
Massachusetts
$5,911
The United States
$4,957
Barnstable Town
$6,673
Worcester
$5,720
Springfield
$5,339
Pittsfield
$5,625
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Amesbury, MA
In Amesbury, home care agencies charge $6,292 per month for nonmedical services, which is moderate compared to other senior care options in the community. This type of care costs about 8% less than assisted living, which includes housing and nonmedical personal care services. Home care is also considerably less expensive than nursing home care, which starts at $13,155. On the other hand, seniors may pay about $50 less for home health care than in-home care. Adult day health care is the most cost-effective option compared to home care at $1,614 per month.
Home Care
$6,292
Home Health Care
$6,244
Adult Day Care
$1,614
Assisted Living
$6,819
Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)
$13,155
Note: Data for Amesbury was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Boston, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Amesbury, MA
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.
Amesbury Home Care Resources
Home care services are only one of the pieces needed for seniors to gracefully age in place. There are many services and programs that are low-cost or free, that enable seniors to enjoy an independent lifestyle in the comfort of their own home, such as help with home modifications, meal delivery services, and more. Below, we’ve compiled a few of the most helpful resources in Amesbury:
Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care
Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – often times it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.
Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care
If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.