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

North Andover, Massachusetts, is a town located in Essex County along the Merrimack River. Just 24 miles from Boston, the community offers a relaxed, suburban atmosphere. It also offers convenient access to big-city amenities, which may be appealing to retirees. 16% of the town’s 30,700 residents are seniors aged 65 and older. Health care costs are well below the national median, and the region is home to numerous world-class medical facilities, including Anna Jaques Hospital. The perks of the town include coffee shops, parks and local shops for residents to enjoy. There’s also a senior center right along Main Street that offers a variety of services and programs for older adults. Based on the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2021, in-home care in North Andover costs an average of $6,292 per month. Home health care services are slightly less expensive at $6,244 per month, even though these services include skilled nursing care in addition to basic household assistance.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in North Andover– 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 Boston is the closest metropolitan center to North Andover, the two cities share the same care costs. Seniors in this region pay an average of $6,292 per month for home care services, which is around $380 higher than the state median and more than $1,300 higher than the national average. If budget is a concern, other cities in Massachusetts, such as Pittsfield and Worcester, are more affordable. In comparison to these cities, Springfield has the lowest costs at $5,339. North Andover is still a good option compared to Barnstable Town, which sees the state’s highest rates at $6,673.

There are several options for seniors and families to consider when thinking about long-term care. The most affordable is adult day health care, though it only covers part-time assistance during the day. Assisted living is around $500 more expensive than both in-home care and home health care services, but it allows seniors to live among peers in a social setting. At $13,155, nursing homes are over twice the cost of home care; however, they offer the most comprehensive scope of 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.