The Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in New York, NY for 2025

New York City seniors who choose home care can expect to pay $5,529 a month for this service based on median cost data from the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This is $200 more than the state’s average and $600 more than the national average. However, New York City doesn’t have the state’s highest average. That is found in Ithaca, which averages $6,101. The lowest average cost is Binghamton, at $4,814 a month. Kingston is closer to New York City’s average, at $5,148 a month.

Seniors in New York have multiple care options available to meet their individual needs. Home care costs an average of $5,529, but seniors who need medical services from a trained nurse or therapist will pay $5,720 a month for home health care. Adult day health care is the most affordable option at $1,950 and assisted living care costs are similar to home care, roughly $200 more. Nursing home care is the most costly at $12,471 monthly for a semiprivate room.

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.