The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Asheville, NC for 2024

Known for its eclectic arts and culture scene and the surrounding natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a small city in North Carolina with a population of a little more than 103,000 residents. Adults aged 65 and over comprise approximately 14.2% of Asheville’s overall population — slightly less than the national average of 16.8%. Health care options in Asheville include Mission Hospital, which is highly ranked in eight adult procedures.

Home health care services are available for those who need light medical services that can be administered in the home environment, while home care services can be accessed by those who need nonmedical personal care and help with household chores such as shopping, laundry, basic housekeeping and meal preparation. Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey lists home care costs in Asheville at $4,957 per month, although these costs may vary depending on the needs and preferences of the client and the hours worked.

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

Although home care in Asheville mirrors the national average, it’s several hundred dollars higher than the statewide median of $4,385, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Home care costs in North Carolina are lower in both Jacksonville and nearby Wilmington. Other low rates are found on the eastern side of the state in Greenville, where residents pay a monthly average of $4,004 for home care services. Costs rise slightly moving west to Charlotte, where residents of North Carolina’s largest city still pay less for home care than the state and national averages. 

Residents of assisted living facilities pay just a few dollars more in senior care costs than their counterparts who choose home care or home health care. Although the latter two options cost approximately the same and have similar-sounding names, home care is strictly limited to nonmedical services such as light housekeeping and errands, while home health care involves medical services such as administering prescription medication and performing physical or occupational therapy. Nursing home residents pay the most for senior care at $7,665 monthly. Adult day care remains the most affordable option.

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.