In-Home Care in West Virginia

Nicknamed “The Mountain State” for its scenic location in the Appalachians, West Virginia is one of the best retirement states. In addition to the beautiful surroundings, seniors who settle here can look forward to a low cost of living and access to high-performing hospitals, including the West Virginia University Health System and Charleston Area Medical Center. With these advantages, it’s no surprise that seniors represent 20.5% of the West Virginia population, compared to just 16.5% of the nation.

Home care services can help West Virginia seniors continue to enjoy living at home. In-home care provides nonclinical assistance with day-to-day living, such as personal care, housekeeping and transportation. This service costs an average of $3,527 per month. Home health care is a clinical service performed by a skilled nurse or other medical professionals, which is $3,575 per month.

This guide explains what you need to know about in-home care and home health care in West Virginia, from its costs and how to pay for it to several free and low-cost resources to help you age in place.

Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey revealed that West Virginia is an affordable place to receive in-home care. Nationally, seniors pay an average of $4,957 per month for this service, while in West Virginia, the cost is only $3,527. Seniors in neighboring states pay much higher prices than their West Virginian counterparts. In Ohio and Pennsylvania, the cost is on par with the national average, while Kentucky and Virginia are nearly as expensive at $4,767 per month.

While in-home care is affordable in West Virginia as a whole, costs vary from one city to another. Seniors in Beckley pay the state’s lowest prices at $2,717 per month, while up in Morgantown, costs are nearly as low at $3,051. At $3,670, the monthly fee in Huntington is slightly higher than the state average. Typical in-home care costs are the highest in Charleston ($4,481) and Weirton ($4,576), though these prices are still affordable compared to national figures.

The type of senior care you need may affect your monthly costs. In-home care costs $3,527 per month, and home health care averages just $48 more. Adult day health care provides support during daytime hours for $1,083 per month. Seniors who can’t or don’t want to age in place may consider residential care options. Care in an assisted living facility costs an average of $4,160 per month, while for the more extensive care provided by nursing facilities, seniors can expect to pay nearly three times more.

Home care is available through West Virginia Medicaid’s Personal Care Services program. Medicaid members who have a medical need for in-home care may receive help with personal care and light housekeeping, as well as health-related tasks. Seniors may be eligible for up to 210 hours of care per month.

Another option for seniors seeking Medicaid-funded home care is the Aged and Disabled Waiver Program. This home- and community-based services waiver provides a variety of supports to help seniors remain in their homes for as long as possible.

To meet the needs of Medicaid applicants, West Virginia offers several different ways to apply for the program. Seniors may choose to:

• Apply online through either the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace or the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ online portal
• Complete a paper application form  and mail or fax it to their local DHHR office
• Visit their local DHHR office to apply in person
• Call (877) 716-1212 to apply over the phone

What Information You Will Need

In West Virginia, every Medicaid applicant must show proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. The state may also ask to verify your income and assets. For a smooth application process, gather the necessary financial documentation before starting. Some examples of documents you might need include:

• Pay stubs
• Pension statements
• Income tax returns
• Bank statements
• Retirement account statements
• Property deeds
• Life insurance policies
• Vehicle registrations
  

In general, Medicare does not cover the cost of non-medical home care. That being said, there are situations in which Medicare provides some coverage for medical home care, referred to as “Home Healthcare.” There are several eligibility restrictions for coverage, including that individuals must be homebound and have a referral from their doctor specifically for home healthcare services.

Below is an overview of some of the skilled medical professionals whose in-home services are typically covered by Medicare – for more in-depth information, refer to our Guide to Home Healthcare.

• Physical Therapists: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis, and assist in recovery from surgeries and procedures such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Visiting Nurses: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services for those who don’t need to stay in the hospital, but do need regular medical services such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.
• Occupational Therapists: Occupational therapists help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily activities.
• Speech Therapists: Speech therapists help seniors who are struggling to adequately communicate due to a stroke, dementia, or any other cause regain the ability to functionally communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets, teaching special techniques to swallow safely, and retraining associated muscles.

As mentioned above, in-home care is distinctly different from home healthcare. But, there can be some overlap in services between the two types of care. So, while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical in-home care, there are in-home care services that may be covered in special circumstances when they’re provided in conjunction with home healthcare (such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing)

To find quality home care providers near you, simply input the zip code or city where you would like to start your search. We have an extensive directory of home care agencies all across the nation that includes in-depth information about each provider and hundreds of thousands of reviews from seniors and their loved ones.