The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Madison, WI for 2024

Madison, Wisconsin, is the state’s capital and is ranked #6 of all U.S. cities on the Caring Senior Living Report. It’s home to UW Health University Hospital, which according to U.S. News and World Report rankings is considered among the top 50 medical facilities in the nation for geriatrics, orthopedics, gynecology and gastroenterology. The Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey 2021 reports that, on average, seniors pay $5,339 a month for home care in Madison. The price of home health care may be higher depending on the provider — home health care differs from home care as the former requires the involvement of licensed medical professionals.

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

Madison’s average monthly cost is 7% higher than the U.S. average, but 3.5% lower than the Wisconsin average, according to Genworth Financial data. Home care prices range throughout the state from a high of $6,101 in southeastern Milwaukee to a low of $5,053 in central Wisconsin’s Green Bay. Appleton’s average monthly price of $5,339 matches Madison’s. Fond du Lac, which is on the opposite side of Lake Winnebago from Appleton, sees average monthly prices that are roughly $380 higher. 

The most expensive long-term care option in Madison is nursing home care, which is 46% costlier than in-home care at $8,851 a month. Home health care, which is similar to home care but performed by licensed medical professionals, has the same average price as home care. Assisted living care is roughly 10% less expensive than home care and can be the best choice for seniors who like the idea of staying social in their retirement years. Adult day health care is available for less than half the price of any other option. 

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.