The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Suffern, NY for 2024

Suffern is a Rockland County village on the New Jersey border, about 45 minutes from Midtown Manhattan. Described by The New York Times as a “pedestrian-friendly place,” Suffern attracts seniors looking for a more leisurely pace of life than the busy cities nearby. This may explain why a significantly above-average 21.8% of its almost 11,500 residents are aged 65 or older. Their medical care is capably handled locally by the village’s Good Samaritan Hospital, while there are several well-respected facilities only minutes away, including Montefiore Nyack Hospital and Helen Hayes Hospital. Additionally, seniors don’t have far to travel to Manhattan’s wealth of renowned medical centers.

Home health aides also deliver medical care for seniors at home in Suffern, while home care agencies specialize in non-medical care. According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, which counts Suffern as part of the greater New York area, the median fee for home care is $5,529 per month, which is about 3.5% more than New York State’s midpoint.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Suffern– 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, the median monthly fee for home care in Suffern is $5,529. Consequently, its residents are likely to pay more than other New Yorkers and Americans, as the state and national averages are $5,339 and $4,957, respectively. Comparisons between Suffern and nearby cities included in the survey reveal varying levels of cost differences, such as Poughkeepsie ($5,339), a monthly difference of $190, and Kingston and Albany, both of which average $5,148 — a cost difference of $381. The greatest difference nearby is $715, with Binghamton ($4,814). 

At $1,950 per month, adult day care is the most affordable option for Suffern’s seniors, although it’s unsuitable for those who are homebound. Home care is next on the list at $5,529, while the medical services delivered by home health aides add about $191 to the monthly fee. Assisted living is the least costly option that includes accommodation at $5,750, while nursing home care is the most expensive, typically costing $12,471 for a semiprivate room.

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.