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

Palmerton is a small borough in Eastern Pennsylvania, just 20 miles from the New Jersey border. It is home to 5,658 residents and is popular with seniors, who make up 18.7% of the population compared to 16.8% of the United States as a whole. Seniors can take advantage of living in an area well-connected in terms of amenities that offer a low cost of living. Seniors who require additional medical care will find Palmerton well-positioned in terms of local hospitals, with the St Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem Campus just 15 miles away. This teaching hospital is a general medical facility that is highly rated and offers a variety of procedures.

The Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2021 lists the average cost of home care in Palmerton as $5,196 per month. Home care includes help with the activities of daily living and household tasks. Home health care services are slightly more costly as they include additional support, such as limited nursing services.

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

Due to the proximity of Palmerton to Allentown, the city shares the same average monthly home care cost of $5,196, which is slightly higher than the state and national averages of $4,957 per month, according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2021. To the north in Scranton, seniors pay some of the lowest fees in the state, averaging $4,576. Fees in York ($4,767) and Chambersburg ($4,957) are also more affordable than in Palmerton. However, the borough’s monthly home care fees compare favorably with some larger cities, being $143 less per month than the average for Pittsburgh.

Seniors may wish to consider other long-term care options, depending on their needs. Home health care carries a premium of just $5,243 per month, for some nursing services and personal care support. Adult day health care is the most affordable option, averaging $1,625 per month for services at a community center. Assisted living facilities are slightly more affordable than in-home care, averaging $4,784 per month, while skilled nursing care is more than twice the cost, at $12,461. 

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.