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The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Bethlehem, PA for 2024

Ranked as the number one place to retire in the northeastern United States, Bethlehem is a charming town in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley just east of Allentown. The Lehigh River runs through Bethlehem, adding to the area’s beautiful scenery, with over a dozen parks and nature centers dotting the area. Shops, museums, pharmacies and restaurants are conveniently located in town. More than 75,600 people live in Bethlehem, with 17.2% of the population aged 65 and up, which is higher than the national average of 16.8%. St. Luke’s University Hospital is an Adult Level I Trauma Center and boasts a nationally recognized open-heart surgery program.

According to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey for 2021, home care for Bethlehem seniors averages $5,196 per month. This figure is a bit less than the cost for home health care, which includes the services of medical professionals in addition to nonmedical services. Older adults in Bethlehem have convenient access to excellent health care in town.

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

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Home Care Agencies in Bethlehem, PA

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Paying for Home Care in Bethlehem, PA

The Cost of Home Care in Bethlehem, PA

Costs for in-home care in Bethlehem average $5,196 per month, which is more than $230 more expensive than both the national and Pennsylvania averages for the same types of assistance. In East Stroudsburg, home care prices are very similar to those in Bethlehem, while in Scranton and Reading, seniors pay an average of $600 less per month. Senior in-home care fees are more expensive moving southwest of Bethlehem, where care costs are about $145 more in Philadelphia.

Bethlehem

$5,196

Pennsylvania

$4,957

The United States

$4,957

East Stroudsburg

$5,144

Scranton

$4,576

Reading

$4,576

Philadelphia

$5,329

The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Bethlehem, PA

While home health care in Bethlehem is more expensive than in-home care, health care professionals, such as nurses and therapists, provide services that personal aides do not. The least expensive option for seniors is recreational programs offered in adult day care centers. These programs are beneficial to seniors who can travel to the centers within their communities. Assisted living is also less costly than either type of in-home care for seniors in this city. Nursing homes are the priciest option, costing over $7,000.

Home Care

$5,196

Home Health Care

$5,243

Adult Day Care

$1,625

Assisted Living

$4,784

Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)

$12,461

Note: Data for Boxford was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Boston, was used instead.

Financial Assistance for Home Care in Bethlehem, PA

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.

Bethlehem Home Care Resources

Home care services are only one of the pieces needed for seniors to gracefully age in place. There are many services and programs that are low-cost or free, that enable seniors to enjoy an independent lifestyle in the comfort of their own home, such as help with home modifications, meal delivery services, and more. Below, we’ve compiled a few of the most helpful resources in Bethlehem:

ResourceContactAddressService
Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley610-691-10304240 Fritch Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18020Meals on Wheels provides meals and other personalized services to homebound elderly and disabled adults in Bethlehem. Meals on Wheels’ experienced nutritionists set up special meals to ensure their clients are well-nourished according to USDA guidelines.
Weatherization Assistance Program (610) 691-56201337 East Fifth Street, Bethlehem, PA 10815This Community Action Committee of Lehigh County program helps low-income citizens by ensuring their home is weatherized for the winter. Elderly and disabled citizens are a priority, and assistance is available for individuals whose household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Respite Care Service(610) 867-2177321 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015ShareCare Faith In Action provides much-needed respite care for the caregivers of elderly and homebound people. A volunteer comes to the residence and temporarily relieves the caregiver so they have time to take care of personal needs. The nonprofit organization specializes in assisting seniors with quality of life needs such as transportation, shopping and visitation. A new program using GrandPad Senior Tablets helps seniors communicate with easy-to-use technology.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program(610) 821-6509555 Union Boulevard, Suite 3, Allentown, PA 18109The LIHEAP federal program helps homeowners with low or no income pay their heating bills. When applicants have met the federal guidelines for income and household size, they can get a discount or full payment of bills for gas or electricity. Individuals or households can also seek assistance to pay telephone bills.
Senior Property Tax Relief(610) 782-303817 South Seventh Street, Room 517, Allentown, PA 18101In 2006, Governor Ed Rendell signed the Taxpayer Relief Act. This law helps Pennsylvania’s school districts use money generated by its casinos rather than property tax revenue, taking the burden of property taxes from homeowners, especially senior citizens, for years to come. An application must be filed with the County Assessor’s office annually to receive this benefit.

Determining Your Loved One’s Need for In-Home Care

Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help – often times it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.

Download
Checklist for determining the need for in-home care
Checklist for determining the need for in-home care

Guidelines for Talking About In-Home Care

If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.

Download
Talking with Family and Others about a loved one's needs
Talking with Family and Others about a loved one's needs
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The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Caring.com

Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. We offer thousands of original articles, helpful tools, advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

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