The 5 Best In-Home Care Services in Hondo, TX for 2023
Hondo is the seat of Medina County, fondly called “God’s Country” and offering the comforts of quiet, affordable small-town living with its peaceful rural surroundings and pleasant Texas Hill Country climate. This small San Antonio suburb of over 8,000 residents is a tight-knit community with 12.2% or roughly 1,000 seniors aged 65+, close to the Texas average of 12.9%. Hondo is home to Medina Regional Hospital and several affiliate specialty clinics, and it has easy access to quality in-home services. Its average home care cost of $4,290 per month covers personal assistance and other nonmedical services, compared to home health care, which includes intermittent skilled nursing.
Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in the Hondo 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.
Directory of Home Care Services in Hondo, TX
Hearts at Home Senior Care – San Antonio
11230 West Ave, Suite 2104, San Antonio, TX, 78213
HomeCare.com
7925 Jones Branch Dr., Suite LL 140, Mclean, VA, 22102
Caring Senior Service
201 East Park Avenue, Suite # 101, San Antonio, TX, 78212
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is a Caring Star Community
Earning a Caring Star means this community is among the best Senior Living commuities in America.
Paying for Home Care in Hondo, TX
The Cost of Home Care in Hondo, TX
Home care is relatively affordable in most of South Texas, with Hondo and the rest of Greater San Antonio coming in at $4,290 per month. This figure from Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey is nearly $100 above the Texas average of $4,195, but almost $200 below the national median of $4,481. Laredo, Victoria and Corpus Christi are close to $4,000, saving Hondo seniors about $300 per month. Seniors opting for Austin can expect to pay $4,385 monthly, nearly $100 more than Hondo.
The Cost of Home Care vs. Other Senior Care Options in Hondo, TX
Compared to home care at $4,290 per month, assisted living at $3,599 is cost-effective with homelike accommodations, meals and 24-supervision included. Home health care at $4,385 costs more because it includes skilled nursing services. For seniors requiring 24-hour skilled care, nursing home care costs $5,338 for semiprivate room stays. The cheapest option is adult day health care at $795 per month, covering services within a limited number of hours per day.
Note: Data for Hondo was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Antonio, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Hondo, TX
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.
Free & Low-Cost Home Care Resources in Hondo, TX
Hondo provides its seniors easy access to city and county resources that can help them remain safe and comfortable in their own homes. Eligible seniors may take advantage of home-delivered meals, home modifications for enhanced safety and energy efficiency, and various forms of financial assistance.
Resource
Contact
Service
(210) 477-3275
Part of the Alamo Area Council Governments, the Alamo AAA supports the long-term needs of Hondo area seniors aged 60 and older to help them age in place and enhance their quality of life. It manages a comprehensive range of services including benefits counseling, care coordination, caregiver support, nutrition and transportation programs, and legal assistance.
(210) 477-3275
ASC is the Aging & Disability Resource Center for seniors 60+, veterans, disabled adults and their families. It provides information, referrals and assistance on various areas such as public benefits, home and community-based services, long-term care options, support groups and other applicable resources and service providers.
(830) 741-6160
Tied with the Medina Senior Center, which is a nutrition site for congregate meals, Meals on Wheels Medina County helps prevent the hunger and isolation of Hondo area seniors. Nutritious home-delivered meals are provided to seniors aged 60+ who are homebound, unable to prepare their own meals, and lack outside support. Weekend and emergency meals and monthly CSFP food bags may also be provided. The program accepts referrals from families, doctors, community agencies and other concerned individuals on behalf of frail seniors.
(830) 303-4376
A Community Action Agency, CCSCT administers the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program, which helps low-income households pay utility bills. Priority is given to vulnerable adults aged 60 and older, the disabled and families with small children. CCSCT also provides other forms of support through its Home & Rental Assistance Program and Veterans Financial Assistance Program.
AACOG WAP provides energy-efficient home improvements that help lower utility costs for homeowners and renters who meet the federal income eligibility criteria. Covered services include energy audits, wall/roof/attic insulation, heating unit installations, weather-stripping and caulking, and window repairs or replacements.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a good home care agency near me in Hondo, TX?
A good home care agency must have certified caregivers who are not only screened and well-trained to provide excellent care and companionship, but are also compassionate and compatible with you or your loved one. A home care agency with flexible service hours may work for those who need assistance at non-regular schedules. An agency must be able to determine the right service plan and caregiver for a client, based on a comprehensive needs assessment. You may also compare Hondo area home care agencies based on their covered services, payment options, caregiver policies, contact availability and customer reviews. If you’re looking for home health aide services, make sure that the home health care agency you’re considering is licensed by the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Commission.
How can I find home care agencies near me with availability?
Hondo area seniors may also contact Alamo Service Connection or visit its website to access its local ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center) database of home care agencies and other in-home service providers. Many home care agencies serving Hondo area seniors are based in nearby San Antonio. For those who are frail, living alone and in most economic and social need, the Alamo Area Agency on Aging’s Care Coordination program provides direct in-home services through its contracted providers.
How do you pay for senior care at home?
Seniors can pay for home care through long-term care insurance, pensions, personal savings, veterans’ benefits, and Medicaid programs for those who are eligible. The STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services waiver program is a Texas Medicaid managed care plan that covers health care and long-term care services delivered in the recipients’ chosen home settings, provided through their chosen health plans. Covered in-home services may include personal assistance, home-delivered meals, adaptive aids and medical supplies, nursing services and rehabilitative therapies.
What is a home care plan?
A detailed home care plan is ideally developed by a home care agency in coordination with the client and/or loved ones, based on the comprehensive assessment of the client’s physical, mental and medical conditions, functional limitations, living environment, and other specific needs. This plan outlines a schedule of the services to be provided, including assistance with specific activities of daily living, medication reminders, in-home chores and outside errands. For home health care agencies, care plans must be developed in compliance with Texas’ licensing standards for Home and Community Support Service Agencies.
What is in-home respite care?
Respite care at home supports care recipients and their primary caregivers who need short-term relief to be able to do personal errands or take a rest. In-home respite care for eligible Hondo area seniors may be provided by home care agencies, volunteer organizations and the Alamo Area Agency on Aging through its Caregiver Support Program.