If you or your aging loved one needs more help than family can provide, your options for professional care — and their associated costs — can vary drastically. One option is to have private home care provided by a caregiver who may work in a senior’s residence part-time, full-time or even live in. This type of care isn’t cheap, and costs vary depending on many factors, though it’s still almost half the cost of a private room at a nursing home, according to Genworth‘s most recent Cost of Care data.
In addition to being less expensive, in-home care is more personal and customized to the senior’s needs. You’ll pay a higher price for a caregiver who specializes in certain conditions or has advanced qualifications, but if your budget allows, the additional expertise may be worth it.
“Quality senior care requires understanding how to communicate well with seniors who are experiencing a variety of age-related health conditions, while also understanding the emotional challenges that come along with living longer,” says Julie Northcutt, who formerly owned and operated a home care agency. Northcutt is currently founder and CEO of Caregiverlist, a resource hub for family and professional caregivers and that also offers online caregiver certification courses.
How much does private home care cost per hour?
As frustrating as the term “it depends” can be, it’s the reality. Prices can vary depending on your geographic area, the care recipient’s needs, and the caregiver’s experience and background.
Location makes one of the biggest impacts on cost. According to latest Care data, senior caregivers typically charge $18.94 per hour in Orlando, compared to $22.55 per hour in Denver.
There’s also a range within each geographic area depending on the level of expertise and care required. Caregiverlist’s rate data shows that the average cost in each state varies by anywhere from around $4 to $11 per hour depending on factors such as skills, expertise and training. For example, in Alabama, Caregiverlist’s data shows that home care hourly prices range from $14 to $25 per hour, while in Arkansas, cost tends to hover only between $15 and $18.
The costs of a caregiver also go up as a senior requires increasingly skilled or specialized care. For example, according to Genworth, the national average in 2021 for home health aides was $27 per hour.
“Typically, when a client’s care needs increase, they require care from a caregiver with additional training or certification,” says Margaret Haynes, chief operating officer of Right at Home, a large in-home senior care company.
“Typically, when a client’s care needs increase, they require care from a caregiver with additional training or certification.”
—Margaret Haynes, COO, Right at Home
“Clients with advanced dementia may need more care from a professional trained in cognitive support,” Haynes explains. “Seniors with medical complexities may require care from a certified nursing assistant or patient care assistant to change simple dressings, help with medical equipment and assist with medication.” These skills mean higher quality of care but potentially higher cost.
Keep in mind that when compared to nursing homes or assisted living, however, in-home care is still far more budget-friendly, Northcutt explains. “One of the big benefits of in-home care is that you have a dedicated caregiver,” she says. Northcutt points out that assisted living communities, which cost at least $4,500 per month, don’t include a dedicated caregiver, and nursing homes, which she says cost anywhere from $260 to $297 per day, usually only have one certified nursing assistant (CNA) per 10 to 12 residents.
Looking for a jumping off point in your city? Enter the type of senior care you’re looking for and your location into our cost calculator.
Latest in-home senior care rates for top cities
| City, State | Hourly In-Home Senior Care Rate* |
| Atlanta, Georgia | $18.83/hr |
| Brooklyn, New York | $20.77/hr |
| Charlotte, North Carolina | $18.93/hr |
| Chicago, Illinois | $20.40/hr |
| Denver, Colorado | $22.55/hr |
| Las Vegas, Nevada | $19.87/hr |
| Los Angeles, California | $23.28/hr |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | $23.13/hr |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $19.39/hr |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $20.72/hr |
| Portland, Oregon | $23.86/hr |
| San Antonio, Texas | $18.17/hr |
| Tampa, Florida | $18.63/hr |
What to factor into the cost of private home care for seniors
Geographic area
Your location plays one of the biggest roles in how much you’ll pay for a caregiver. Hourly costs are higher in areas with greater costs of living, and areas with significant competition for senior caregivers can also push up costs.
To get a sense of how geography can influence cost, check out recent Care data for examples of average prices by location.
“Duties that require higher caregiver pay are any types of care that need a higher level of skill or more dedicated, hands-on care, such as when caring for someone who is bedridden or recovering from a major surgery.”
—Julie Northcutt, founder and CEO, Caregiverlist
Types of duties and tasks
Caregiving prices also vary based on what level of assistance the senior needs. “Duties that require higher caregiver pay are any types of care that need a higher level of skill or more dedicated, hands-on care, such as when caring for someone who is bedridden or recovering from a major surgery,” Northcutt says.
You may pay more if you need someone who:
- Has training to administer medication.
- Does household tasks such as cleaning, cooking and laundry.
- Transports the senior.
- Performs certain hygiene tasks such as bathing.
- Handle medical tasks such as wound care.
Before you hire a caregiver, it’s important to explicitly cover what tasks are and aren’t included in their price so there are no surprises on either end.
Experience and specialization of the caregiver
Senior caregivers with years of experience and specialization can command higher prices than caregivers with less time under their belt. Those who have earned certifications or completed relevant training or licensing may also charge more. For example, a CNA will charge more than a caregiver with no medical training.
While most states require professional in-home caregivers to have at least some basic training and certification, Northcutt says, some require more in-depth and ongoing training — especially if the caregiver has a specialty.
“Some states, such as Illinois, require any caregiver who will care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia to complete an initial six-hour training course on memory loss care along with a three-hour renewal training course each year,” Northcutt explains. “This demonstrates how important it is to have a caregiver who has experience in caring for the health conditions the senior may be experiencing.”
She notes that while some caregivers do general work, most will specialize, especially as they advance in their career. “Just as it doesn’t work to hire a painter to do your plumbing, caregivers are professionals too, and they have specific training and work experience,” Northcutt adds. “Certain caregivers, for instance, enjoy end-of-life care and have been trained to be hospice caregivers, and others may specialize in caring for someone recovering from a stroke.”
Type of employment
Costs can also vary depending on whether the caregiver works independently or is employed by an agency. Both have their benefits and drawbacks; agencies usually charge higher fees than the individuals, but they also vet caregivers and ensure minimum qualifications are met.
Northcutt says licensed senior home care agencies have to charge more due to additional overhead, such as worker’s compensation insurance, liability insurance, a fidelity bond and payroll taxes. “Seniors who have accumulated a lifetime of assets must remember that caregivers are employees, and they will want to maintain all the protections necessary for employee injuries,” Northcutt explains. “Many families realize that having these protections are more than worth the extra few dollars per hour.”
If you hire a caregiver directly, Northcutt recommends looking into offering some of these protections yourself, which add to the up-front cost but can protect your finances if your caregiver is hurt on the job and sues.
“We know that more and more seniors want to live and age in their home environment, and the flexibility of in-home care makes it an affordable and attractive option to many older adults.”
—Margaret Haynes, COO, Right at Home
What extra costs are not included?
You may find that some additional costs aren’t wrapped into the base price, such as:
- Agency fees. If you hire your senior caregiver through a service or referral agency, the additional fees may be bundled into your caregiver’s cost, or you may pay the agency separate fees. These help cover the costs of hiring, vetting, matching and insuring their employees.
- Benefits. Depending on how you hire the caregiver and how many hours they work for you, you may need to budget for occasional raises, bonuses, overtime and paid sick or vacation days.
- Additional certifications. If your caregiver doesn’t possess certifications that you require they have, such as CPR, you may need to pay for the cost of these non-essential certifications.
- Taxes. When you hire a caregiver to work in a home, the IRS considers them your household employee. Whether they work part-time or full-time, the IRS views them as your employee, and you may be responsible for withholding and paying federal taxes (Social Security, Medicare and unemployment). If you hire through an agency, they typically take care of this, but if you hire directly, you’ll have to manage payroll and taxes. It’s wise to meet with an accountant to determine how this will impact your taxes and to ensure everything is handled properly.
Finding the right balance
In the end, the costs of in-home senior care can vary quite a bit depending on the senior’s needs, where you live, how you hire a caregiver and what types of skills or training you require. If you’re on a tight budget, you may have to compromise on experience and skills.
But even if you require more specialized caregivers on the pricier end, keep in mind that this option is often more cost-effective and comfortable for seniors than living in a facility.
As Haynes says, “We know that more and more seniors want to live and age in their home environment, and the flexibility of in-home care makes it an affordable and attractive option to many older adults.”
