The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in East Hampstead, NH for 2024

East Hampstead is located 20 miles southeast of Manchester and 20 miles west of the Gulf of Maine. The small unincorporated community makes up part of Hampstead, a town that has 9,045 residents. Seniors account for around 19.9% of the population, which is higher than than the U.S. average of 16.5%. As a result of the lower-than-average health care costs and low crime rates, East Hampstead makes an excellent choice for seniors looking to retire in a safe small town. The town of Hampstead has a local hospital, and for more specialized care, seniors can go to Elliot Hospital in Manchester. The 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey reports that seniors in East Hampstead pay around $6,149 for home care — higher than both the state and national averages. Typically, home care covers personal care tasks such as bathing, whereas home health care also includes medical services such as insulin administration.

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

East Hampstead has relatively expensive home care, costing around $1,200 more than the national average and about $150 more than the state average. In Portland, Maine, home care is slightly more affordable, and in Lewiston, Maine, care is significantly more affordable than in East Hampstead. To the south in Boston, Massachusetts, the cost of care is around $150 more expensive than in East Hampstead, and in Worcester, care is less expensive.

Home care, which includes personal care, is slightly cheaper than home health care, which offers medical services. By far the most affordable option is adult day care, which includes daytime support and costs around $4,500 less than home care. In East Hampstead, assisted living is significantly more expensive than home care, costing almost $2,000 more. Nursing homes provide the highest level of care, and a semiprivate room typically costs around $5,130 more than 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.