The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Heath, OH for 2024

Originally populated by the Hopewell Natives in the first century, Heath is a city with large earthworks and an ancient Native burial ground. Located approximately 30 miles east of Columbus, Heath offers a family-friendly atmosphere with big city amenities and access to quality health care, including Licking Memorial Hospital and the Ohio State East Hospital. Close to 21% of the city’s population of 10,412 is aged 65 and older, which is much more than the national average. Some of these individuals choose home care so they may remain in their homes as long as possible. In Heath, home care, which provides help with daily living tasks, costs around $4,576 per month. Those who need assistance with medical needs may opt for home health care, which costs the same in Heath.  

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

The median cost of home care in Heath is $4,576 per month, according to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey. This is more than the state and national averages, which are both $4,481. To the northwest in Lima, the cost of home care is the same as in Heath. In the southwest corner in Cincinnati, the cost is $4,767, and in the northeast city of Akron, seniors can expect to pay around $4,195 per month.   

Despite being more expensive than the state and national average, home care and home health care are still less expensive options than a semiprivate room in a nursing home, which costs around $6,996 per month in Heath. Home health care provides rehabilitation and skilled nursing, but it costs approximately the same in Heath as home care. An assisted living community costs around $4,500, and adult day health care charges only $1,625 per month.  

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.