We want to care for our elderly loved ones, and sometimes that means finding someone who is experienced in senior care. Fortunately, there are plenty of places to choose from, and each option has its own price tag. Here is the average cost of various types of senior care.
Telephone Call Assurance
If your loved one is still independent, you may consider the cheapest option: phone call assurance. Many of these programs are even free and provided by volunteers or charitable organizations. If telephone call assurance is not run by a non-profit organization, the cost will only be as much as $5 or $6 per month.
Home Health Aides
Home health aides can vary in cost depending on their amount of experience and education. The price may also be affected by how much assistance your loved one will need. The average cost for a home health aide is around $20 an hour and sometimes can even be as low as $10 an hour. However, those who need extensive care will require an aide with quite a bit of experience, and the price can be as high as $50 an hour.
Visiting Nurses
If your loved one needs medical care in addition to assistance in the home, a visiting nurse is an option. These services may be covered by Medicare or Medicaid, but if not, you’re looking at a price tag of around $25-$60 per hour for a visiting nurse. Due to the high cost, some nursing facilities will offer payment plans to help cover the cost of a nurse visiting your home.
Assisted Living Facilities
An assisted living facility is a smaller environment where residents sometimes share rooms. The cost for an assisted living facility will vary depending on where your location. In general, the price will generally be between $850 and $4,000 per month. Some facilities will offer financial assistance for those who can’t afford it on their own. Section 8 may also pay for part of your loved one's care with certain assisted living facilities.
Nursing Homes
Nursing homes can be very expensive, but will also provide better care than assisted living facilities. A nursing home becomes necessary when your loved one needs around the clock care and nurses to administer their medications. The price of a room in a nursing home ranges vastly depending on where you live and the type of facility. Private rooms are an average of $77,000 per year or $213 daily. Semi-private rooms are on average $68,000 annually or $189 daily.
Hospice Care
If your loved one needs a lot of medical assistance or is in the process of passing on, you may consider a hospice center. These centers are often covered through Medicare or Medicaid, though there may be additional payments required depending on the type of care your loved one needs. Sometimes rooms will be donated and paid for by charities for individuals, though this process differs depending on the hospice center.
