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The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Laurel, MS for 2024

Laurel, Mississippi, the backdrop of HGTV’s show “Home Town,” is home to 17,106 residents. About 17.7% of them are aged 65 and older. The number of seniors in the city is slightly above the shared state and national average of 16.8%. While cost of living and violent crime rates are lower than the national average, health costs and property crime rates are higher than average. Seniors can obtain a wide range of health care services at the South Central Regional Medical Center and specialized cardiovascular care at the Heart Care Center. Laurel shares senior care cost figures with Hattiesburg, which is about 30 miles away. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, home care services in Laurel cost $4,004 per month, on average. This type of care differs from home health care services, which include light medical care.

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

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Home Care Agencies in Laurel, MS

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Paying for Home Care in Laurel, MS

The Cost of Home Care in Laurel, MS

Laurel’s home care costs are about $190 higher per month than the average city in Mississippi. However, this is approximately $950 under the national median. Monthly costs are also about $190 lower than in the Gulfport area to the south, along the Secret Coast. Further north in the state capital of Jackson, seniors pay on average $572 less a month. Southeast in Mobile, near Alabama’s Gulf Coast, home care costs an average of about $190 less per month than in Laurel.

Laurel

$4,004

Mississippi

$3,813

United States

$4,957

Gulfport Area

$4,195

Jackson

$3,432

Mobile, AL

$3,813

The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Laurel, MS

Home care in Laurel costs the same, on average, as home health care services, despite the latter including minor medical assistance from skilled nurses or therapists. Assisted living in this city runs $120 more per month than home care. A semiprivate room in a nursing home costs seniors an average of $3,372 more.

Home Care

$4,004

Home Health Care

$4,004

Assisted Living Facility

$4,124

Nursing Home Facility (semiprivate room)

$7,376

Note: Data for Laurel was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Hattiesburg, was used instead.

Financial Assistance for Home Care in Laurel, MS

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.

Laurel 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 Laurel:

ResourceContactAddressService
AARP Mississippi(866) 554-5382141 Township Avenue, #302, Ridgeland, MS 39157This state arm of the nationwide nonprofit organization for adults assists area seniors in finding programs and financial supports that can make it easier to age in place at home. Such programs include those that help pay for critical broadband internet access and home repairs, in addition to transportation services that help seniors travel safely around town. AARP also organizes seminars that educate seniors about Social Security and Medicare benefits and policies. 
Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District(601) 545-2137914 Sullivan Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39401The SMPDD functions as the federally designated Area Agency on Aging for the Laurel area; as such, it works to support the needs of the town’s senior population through community-based systems. Systems include a legal assistance program that helps elderly citizens understand and exercise their civil rights, a meal delivery service that gets hot, nutritious meals directly to homebound seniors and an adult day care program that provides caregiver respite while simultaneously giving participants opportunities to socialize with peers.
Caregiver Support Program(228) 868-2311914 Sullivan Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39401This program is administered by the SMPDD and is aimed at caregivers and family members supporting seniors with Alzheimer’s or similar types of dementia. Its web-based virtual support groups are offered at no cost and include workshops on understanding the stages of dementia, specific care partnering techniques that can help deepen the connection between caregiver and senior and maximizing the enjoyment of existing skills.
State Health Insurance Assistance Program(601) 359-4500200 South Lamar St., Jackson, MS 39201Seniors can use this program to get answers to questions about health insurance issues, including those regarding Medicare and Medicaid policies. The program’s trained volunteers can help seniors submit the paperwork for filing claims and appeals, develop a deeper understanding of eligibility requirements and determine whether long-term care is a good choice for them. 

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 – oftentimes 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.

Download
Checklist for determining the need for in-home care
Checklist for determining the need for in-home care

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.

Download
Talking with Family and Others about a loved one's needs
Talking with Family and Others about a loved one's needs
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The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Caring.com

Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. We offer thousands of original articles, helpful tools, advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

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