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

Located on a river near the North Carolina coast, New Bern is a charming riverfront city that’s rich in history. The community is home to more than 31,300 residents, 22.7% of whom are seniors aged 65 and older — more than the national rate of 16.8%. New Bern is a very affordable destination for seniors given  a  low cost of living. For medical services, seniors have access to world-class health care providers including the award-winning CarolinaEast Medical Center. According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, New Bern seniors pay $3,813 monthly for home care services that provide daily assistance and help around the house. Seniors can also access home health care, which further includes light medical services.

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

Seniors living in New Bern pay an average of $3,813 per month for in-home care services, which is over $1,140 less expensive than the U.S. national average. Rates are also more than $570 lower than the state median, making New Bern one of the most affordable regions in North Carolina. While nearby Goldsboro shares the same costs, other cities, such as Greenville and Jacksonville, are anywhere from $190-380 more expensive per month. However, these areas are still less expensive than Wilmington, where seniors can expect to pay about $760 more than they would in New Bern.

There are several other options for seniors to consider when making decisions about long-term care. Assisted living is around $168 less than home care. These facilities allow seniors to live in a social setting, and rates include residents’ room and board as well as meals and social programming. While home health care includes medical services in addition to the basic assistance included with home care, rates in New Bern are the same for both types of care. Individuals who need 24/7 care and supervision may opt for nursing home care, though rates are almost double that of 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.