The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Lancaster, PA for 2024
Caring’s 2022 Senior Living Report of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, evaluates 46 factors contributing to quality of life. It concludes the city is the second-best in Pennsylvania and seventh in the U.S. for seniors. Contributing factors include housing costs, crime rates and traffic congestion below the national averages and better than normal air quality.
Lancaster has many home health care agencies delivering limited medical care in seniors’ homes, and several well-respected hospitals. The primary facility is Lancaster General Hospital.  Lancaster’s home care agencies provide nonmedical personal care and light housekeeping services for seniors struggling with daily living tasks. The city’s median monthly fee is $5,339, which is about 7.2% above the state average.
Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Lancaster– 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.
Home Care Agencies in Lancaster, PA
23 Results
Eleanor Home Health
131 E Grant St, Lancaster, PA, 17602
Home Helpers Home Care of Downingtown
600 Eagleview Blvd Suite 300 , Exton, PA, 19341
5.0
(2 reviews)
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Paying for Home Care in Lancaster, PA
The Cost of Home Care in Lancaster, PA
According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Lancaster’s typical senior pays $5,339 per month for home care. This is more than their equivalent in the state and the country, both of whom pay $4,957. Lancaster is the costliest city in the region when compared to those within an hour’s radius. For example, seniors in York and Harrisburg typically pay $4,767 per month for home care, while in Reading, the median fee is $4,576, and in Lebanon, $5,243.
Lancaster
$5,339
Pennsylvania
$4,957
The United States
$4,957
York
$4,767
Reading
$4,576
Lebanon
$5,243
Harrisburg
$4,767
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Lancaster, PA
Home care agencies provide personal care and light housekeeping services for approximately $5,339 in Lancaster. At $1,837, adult day care services are similar but unsuitable for homebound seniors. Assisted living costs more for home care-like services in an institution, at $5,550. Although often confused with home care, home health care is actually a medical service provided by registered nurses and therapists, with Lancaster’s agencies typically charging $5,434 per month for home-appropriate care, such as physical therapy and wound care. At $11,528, nursing homes charge the highest fees for near-hospital levels of medical care.
Home Care
$5,339
Home Health Care
$5,434
Adult Day Health Care
$1,837
Assisted Living
$5,550
Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)
$11,528
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Lancaster, 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.
Lancaster 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 Lancaster:
Resource | Contact | Address | Service |
---|---|---|---|
Options | (717) 299-7979 | 150 N Queen Street Suite 415 Lancaster, PA 17603 | Options is a program offered to seniors to provide in-home assistance for those unable to do so for themselves. These services are designed to help those who would otherwise have to live in an assisted facility. Services include: |
Pennsylvania Department of Aging Meal Assistance | (717) 299-7979 | 150 N Queen Street Lancaster, PA 17603 | For seniors ages 60 years and older, there are several services available to ensure healthy nutrition every day. These include deliverable meals to the senior’s home and the ElderShare Supplemental Food Program, which works with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to deliver a monthly box of shelf-stable food to low-income seniors. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides low-income seniors with benefit checks redeemable at local farmers’ markets. |
Pennsylvania Weatherization Assistance Program | (866) 466-3972 | Commonwealth Keystone Building 400 North Street, 4th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225 | The Weatherization Assistance Program of Pennsylvania is a nationally-funded program that aims to reduce energy costs and increase efficiency for homeowners in need of assistance. Priority is given to seniors and other high-risk residents. To qualify, individuals must be considered low income, which is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Offered services include: |
The Link | (866) 466-3972 | Commonwealth Keystone Building 400 North Street, 4th Floor Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225 | The Link, Pennsylvania’s Aging and Disability Resource, is part of a national group to ensure that seniors and adults with disabilities receive the help they need for daily living. Information and assistance provided through the Link are completely free for eligible individuals. Link’s services include assistance in creating plans for independence and securing funding for independent living. Additionally, the Link offers help in remaining and/or returning to the home after an illness, accident, or disability. Seniors also have connections to local Link support services. |
Lancaster Rec Senior Center | (717) 399-7671 | 525 Fairview Avenue Lancaster, PA 17603 | The Lancaster Rec Senior Center, part of the Lancaster Recreation Commission, is devoted to providing seniors aged 60 and over with free classes, groups and activities for the body and mind. Seniors can stay fit and active with: |
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.
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.