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

Topsfield is a small, rural town that lies in Massachusetts’ North Shore region. Residents 65 years old and up make up 21.9% of the 6,555 people living there. Topsfield is attractive to seniors looking for an affordable cost of living and low crime rates with access to the many parks and entertainment offerings nearby. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors in the suburb of Topsfield, which has similar costs as seniors in nearby Boston, pay an average of $6,292 monthly for home care services. Seniors can choose between home care, providing personal care services, or home health care for seniors who need skilled nursing. Topsfield’s proximity to Boston allows seniors to access top-rated hospitals, such as Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Topsfield– 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 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors in Topsfield pay an average of $6,292 per month for in-home care, an amount that’s above the state costs and around $1,300 more expensive than the national average. In more western parts of the state, such as Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield, home care costs are much less expensive. Cities southeast of Topsfield, such as Barnstable Town, have higher prices.

Home care costs in Topsfield are just slightly more expensive than assisted living, but many thousands of dollars more affordable than a semiprivate room in a skilled nursing facility. The least costly option for seniors is an adult day health care program, which is over $4,675 lower in price than in-home care and provides organized activities and some health care services on-site. Home care services offer support with daily tasks, such as grooming, meal prep and errands. Home health care offers similar services including medical 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.