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

Seniors in Methuen, MA, enjoy safe, peaceful suburban living near Boston and New Hampshire. Over 8,000 residents, 16% of the city’s population, are aged 65 and older. Residents have convenient access to scenic nature parks, shopping, and the local senior center for recreational programs and Council on Aging services. Veterans can use the Veterans Services Department for VA benefits. State-of-the-art health care services are offered at Holy Family Hospital – Methuen, and there are several home care agencies serving the area to support aging in place. Health care is relatively affordable, despite the city’s high overall cost of living due to high housing costs. Seniors who wish to age in place can choose home care, which includes assistance with errands, housekeeping and other activities associated with daily living, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting and mobility; or home health care, which adds a medical care component in the home. The first option, home care, costs an average of $6,292 per month, according to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

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

Just like the rest of the Boston metro, Methuen’s average cost for in-home care is $6,292 per month, according to Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. This amount is nearly $400 above the Massachusetts average, and higher by over $1,300 compared to the national average. Barnstable in the southeast is even more expensive by almost $400. Less expensive options include Worcester in Central Massachusetts and Providence in Rhode Island, both saving seniors about $600 monthly. Nearby Manchester in New Hampshire is also less costly by almost $150.

In Methuen, home care and home health care cost almost the same within the $6,200 range. Assisted living costs around $500 more per month, and it covers monthly apartment rental and meals. Adult day health care at $1,614 is the cheapest option and may be suitable for those who are able to remain at home and receive care in a nonresidential setting. Seniors requiring 24-hour nursing home care can expect to spend more than twice the cost of home care.

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.