The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Easthampton, MA for 2024

Easthampton is a historically rich town in the western region of Massachusetts with about 16,000 residents and a large senior community that makes up nearly a quarter of the population. This town features a low crime rate and pleasant weather throughout the year, along with comparatively affordable housing prices, fostering a welcoming environment for older adults who live alone. The town also has several home care agencies to support seniors’ independence. These agencies provide nonmedical services, such as housekeeping, personal care and transportation, for approximately $5,339 per month. This is different from home health care, which includes nonmedical support in addition to skilled nursing services, such as medication administration, disease management and physical therapy.  

Below we've compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Easthampton 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.

According to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey, home care agencies in Easthampton charge $5,339 per month for care. While this is 8% higher than the national average, it’s hundreds of dollars below the Massachusetts norm of $5,911. Local care costs are among the lowest of surveyed cities in the state, with rates in Easthampton coming in 20% below the average in Barnstable Town and 15% below the rate in Boston. Similarly, in Worcester, care costs are about $400 more per month than in Easthampton, and in Pittsfield, rates are higher than the local average at $5,625.

In-home care is moderately priced compared to other senior care options in Easthampton, with local agencies charging $5,339 per month for services. This is about $200 less than the cost of home health care, which includes skilled nursing, and it’s less than half the cost of nursing home care, which starts at $12,623. Even so, seniors may pay about 5% less for assisted living, and adult day health care is considerably more economically priced at $2,123.

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.