The 5 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Sunray, TX for 2024

Located in the northernmost part of Texas, Sunray is a small city of less than 2,000 people. U.S. Census data finds that Sunray’s Potter County has a senior population of 13.5%, which means that this area skews a bit younger than the average U.S. region. Sunray’s cost of living is 26% below the national average and, with no state level income tax obligation in Texas, retirement-age adults may find it a financially savvy choice. Hospitals such as BSA Hospital and Northwest Texas Healthcare System, are based in Amarillo.

Due to Sunray’s small size and its proximity to Amarillo, Genworth Financial considers Sunray to be part of Amarillo in its 2021 Cost of Care Survey. According to said study, the area’s average monthly price of home care is $4,052. Home care refers to basic personal, nonmedical care, whereas home health care includes a medical component and is sometimes more expensive.

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

Sunray’s average monthly price for home care is approximately $500 below that of the Texas average, which in turn is approximately $400 below the U.S. average. Genworth Financial finds that Texas prices go even lower in the West Texas city of El Paso and reach their lowest in the South Texas city of Brownsville. Meanwhile, prices peak in the state capital, Austin, where seniors pay roughly 28% more than they do in Sunray. Dallas, another major city where Texans see home care prices that exceed the state average, costs 20% more than Sunray on a monthly basis.

Home health care, which differs from home care in that it offers skilled nursing, shares home care’s average monthly price of $4,052. Seniors living in Sunray’s assisted living facilities pay roughly $550 a month more than those who choose in-home care. Nursing home care doubles that price jump and is roughly $1,100 more expensive than home care. At $1,408 a month, adult day health care is much cheaper than competing options, but is usually used to supplement in-home care.

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.