The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Missoula, MT for 2024

Located in the Northwestern region of the United States, Missoula offers historical sites, museums and outdoor activities to explore. The city is home to nearly 77,000 residents, with a senior population comprising 13.6%. Missoula may attract seniors due to its affordable health care and higher-than-average number of local physicians. It also houses Providence St. Patrick Hospital, one of the most advanced health care facilities in the Rocky Mountain region. To access home care, seniors in Missoula pay about $5,243 per month, which is lower than Montana's statewide average of $5,339. While home care offers daily living assistance, home health care may be more suitable for those requiring skilled nursing services such as wound care or medication administration. 

Below we've compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Missoula 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 access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, seniors in Missoula pay an average monthly rate of $5,243 for home care. While this figure is lower than Montana's statewide average of $5,339, it's about 5.8% higher than the national median. However, Missoula is still one of the most affordable cities in Montana. In Glendive, prices skyrocket by over 49%, while seniors in Billings pay a higher rate of $5,720 for care. Monthly costs drop in Great Falls, where home care is about $545 less than in Missoula. 

Missoula offers several senior care options to help older adults access services based on their needs. For a monthly fee of $5,243, those wishing to age in place can reap the benefits of personal care assistance with home care or skilled nursing services with home health care. If living alone is no longer a safe option, assisted living, a residential care option offering daily living support, may be more appropriate. Seniors pay about 12.8% less for this care type. A nursing home is an alternative residential option offering skilled nursing care for a higher rate than home care at $9,125. 

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.