Revised November 2026 with 2025 Cost of Care Survey figures and our current rates.
The short answer: In 2025, the median price for a non-medical caregiver was $35 an hour nationally and $30 an hour in the San Antonio area, according to CareScout. At Assisting Hands Home Care of Northeast San Antonio, our rates are about $40 an hour for a 2-hour visit, about $34 an hour for 3 to 4 hours, and about $31 an hour for 5 hours or more. We confirm the exact rate at a free in-home consultation.
Caring for a loved one is an emotional decision and a financial one. With the rise of aging populations and increasing demand for home care services, families today are faced with important questions: How much does in-home care cost? Is it more affordable than long-term care in institutions? And most importantly, is the value of home care worth the cost?
The home care sector continues to grow as families seek alternatives to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Many older adults prefer to remain in their homes, surrounded by comfort and familiarity. But as practical as this option sounds, the cost of home care can vary widely. This article unpacks what drives these costs, what families can expect to pay, and how to evaluate the value of care services in comparison to other long-term care solutions.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of home care costs, the factors that influence pricing, and strategies to pay for home care without compromising on quality.
What is Home Care and Why is it Important?
Defining home care and home care services
At its core, home care is the provision of support and assistance to individuals in the comfort of their own homes. It encompasses a wide range of care services, from personal care tasks like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation to more advanced home health support such as wound care, therapy, or skilled nursing care.
Home care is typically divided into two categories:
- Non-medical home care: Includes homemaker services, companion care, and daily living support such as transportation, light housekeeping, or services such as meals.
- Medical home care: Also known as home health care, involves licensed professionals such as nurses or therapists who provide medical services, medication management, or rehabilitation.
These home care services are not one-size-fits-all. The type of care required depends on the level of care needed, the complexity of care, and the overall health of the individual. Families often collaborate with care providers to develop a personalized care plan that addresses the unique needs of their loved one.
Difference between medical and non-medical care services
Understanding this distinction is crucial when discussing home care costs. Non-medical care, such as homemaker services, is usually less expensive because it doesn’t require licensed professionals. Tasks are handled by a home health aide or caregiver trained in assisting with everyday activities.
In contrast, home health care services like administering medications, monitoring chronic conditions, or post-hospital recovery come at a higher price. This is because the care provided requires specialized training, certifications, and oversight from healthcare professionals.
Families need to carefully assess whether they require medical or non-medical care, or a mix of tailored services. This decision directly influences the cost of home care services.
Why families choose home care over institutional care
Why is home care so popular compared to assisted living facilities or nursing homes? The answer is simple: home care is often more comfortable, flexible, and in many cases, cost-effective.
Some of the most common reasons families prefer care at home include:
- Familiar environment: Staying at home reduces stress and helps maintain independence.
- Personalized care: A care plan can be adjusted to specific care needs rather than conforming to a structured care setting.
- Cost savings: While the high cost of nursing homes can reach thousands of dollars per month, home care can vary in expense depending on the hours of care per day.
- Emotional support: Being surrounded by family and friends often improves the mental well-being of the older adult receiving care.
When compared to institutional care, home care can significantly improve the quality of care delivered. It allows for more flexibility, one-on-one attention, and better alignment with family expectations.
How Much Does In-Home Care Cost?
National average cost and median cost of home care
The question on most people’s minds is: “How much does in-home care cost?”
According to the 2025 Cost of Care Survey from CareScout, a Genworth company, the national median cost for a non-medical caregiver was $35 an hour, up 3 percent from $34 in 2024. The median in Texas and in the San Antonio area was $30 an hour. CareScout now reports homemaker and home health aide services as one group, called non-medical caregiver, because their prices have moved so close together.
At Assisting Hands Home Care of Northeast San Antonio, the hourly rate goes down as visits get longer:
- 2-hour visit: about $40 an hour
- 3 to 4 hours: about $34 an hour
- 5 hours or more: about $31 an hour
The exact rate depends on the level of care and how far the caregiver travels, so we confirm it at a free in-home consultation. Families pay us directly, because ours is private-pay care.
This means that while home care is often more affordable than institutional care, the costs associated with home care can add up quickly.
Hourly rate vs. monthly in-home care costs
When breaking down the cost of in-home care, it’s important to understand how care per day is calculated. Some families only require a few hours of personal care each week, while others need help for most of the day or care around the clock in shifts.
- Hourly rate: CareScout’s 2025 state medians ran from $24 an hour in Mississippi to $46 in Wyoming. Texas was $30.
- Monthly in-home care: CareScout prices full-time care at 44 hours a week. At that schedule, the 2025 median came to $5,720 a month in Texas and the San Antonio area and $6,673 nationally.
However, the cost of home care varies depending on the level of care required. For example, a person needing only companionship and help with chores may pay far less than someone requiring skilled nursing care or intensive home health care services.
Variations in home care costs across states
Another critical factor is geography. The home care in each state differs due to wage laws, caregiver availability, and the cost of living.
- States with a lower cost of living, like much of the South, tend to have lower rates for home care services. Mississippi and Arkansas had the lowest 2025 medians, at $24 and $25 an hour.
- States with a high cost of living tend to cost more. The 2025 median in California and Massachusetts was $40 an hour, about 14 percent above the national median.
A few 2025 medians from CareScout:
- Texas: $30 an hour, the same as the San Antonio area
- California: $40 an hour
- Florida: $32 an hour
- United States: $35 an hour
This makes it essential for families to not only ask “how much does in-home care cost?” but also “how much does in-home care cost in my state?”. Understanding the home care in each state is key to realistic financial planning.
Key Factors That Influence Home Care Costs
Level of care required and complexity of care
The single biggest factor that shapes the cost of home care is the level of care required. Some individuals only need light homemaker services such as cooking, laundry, or transportation to appointments. Others, however, may need skilled nursing care or even daily medical services.
When a caregiver provides assistance with everyday tasks like grooming or companionship, the costs are on the lower end. But when the complexity of care increases, such as managing diabetes, post-surgery recovery, or monitoring chronic illnesses, the price can rise sharply, because some of that work needs a licensed nurse. CareScout’s 2025 national median for skilled nursing in the home was $90 an hour, compared with $35 for a non-medical caregiver.
The more intensive the care needs, the higher the bill. Families should always request a personalized care plan from the care agency to avoid paying for unnecessary services while ensuring the right support is in place.
Specialized care needs such as skilled nursing care or wound care
Not all in-home care expenses are created equal. Some situations demand specialized care that goes beyond standard personal care. For instance:
- Wound care after surgery or injury requires a registered nurse.
- Therapies (speech, occupational, physical) must be handled by licensed professionals.
- Chronic disease management (such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s) may involve advanced training.
This type of specialized care costs significantly more because it combines home health care services with professional oversight. Families often underestimate this, but the truth is that care and medical needs can quickly escalate expenses, especially in cases where multiple health care services must be provided simultaneously.
Hours of care per day and around-the-clock care
The number of hours of care per day is another major cost driver. Some families hire a caregiver for just a few hours to provide companion care, while others need care for most of the day or around the clock. The monthly figures below use weekly hours times 52 weeks, divided by 12.
- Part-time care: 4-hour visits, 5 days a week (20 hours), come to about $2,950 a month at about $34 an hour.
- Full-time daily care: 8 hours a day, 5 days a week (40 hours), comes to about $5,370 a month at about $31 an hour.
- Around-the-clock care: we provide 24-hour care in shifts, from $31 an hour. We confirm the exact rate at a free in-home consultation.
When estimating the cost of in-home care, families need to balance the number of hours with the care plan. Sometimes rotating caregivers is more cost-effective than hiring for 24-hour coverage, depending on the care required.
Comparing Home Care to Other Long-Term Care Options
Cost comparison with assisted living facilities
One of the most common questions is whether home care can vary significantly in cost compared to assisted living facilities. The answer is yes, and often in surprising ways.
CareScout’s 2025 median for a one-bedroom unit in assisted living was $5,885 a month in the San Antonio area, $5,666 in Texas and $6,200 nationally. While this price includes housing, meals, and activities, it often does not cover specialized care or skilled nursing care. Those services typically cost extra.
Meanwhile, home care services may be more affordable for individuals who only require part-time assistance. For example, paying for personal care three times a week is far cheaper than moving into a full-time facility. However, when a person needs around-the-clock assistance, the cost of home care varies but can exceed the cost of assisted living.
Care provided in nursing care homes vs. home care
Nursing care homes are designed for individuals requiring intensive medical support. CareScout’s 2025 median cost of care for a shared nursing home room was $6,372 a month in the San Antonio area and $9,581 nationally. A private room ran $8,213 a month locally and $10,798 nationally.
In contrast, the cost-effectiveness of home care becomes clear when medical attention is not constant. Many families realize that they can supplement home care with periodic home health aide services or visits from nurses rather than paying for full-time residential care.
While nursing homes provide structure and supervision, they lack the personalized care that home care offers. Families often prefer the flexibility of keeping loved ones at home, where the care provided is tailored and one-on-one.
Cost-effectiveness of home care compared to institutional care
The debate of home care vs. institutional care often comes down to cost-effectiveness. When a person only needs moderate assistance, say 20 hours a week, home care is often significantly cheaper. Even when comparing full-time assistance, the cost-effectiveness of home care is strong because families can customize services.
For example:
- Assisted living requires paying for bundled services, some of which may not be necessary.
- Nursing homes demand high fees due to around-the-clock medical staffing.
- Home care allows families to develop a personalized care plan that matches care needs with available budget.
In other words, care can significantly cost less at home when tailored correctly, especially when compared to institutional care.
Payment Options for Home Care Services
Private pay home care rates and out-of-pocket costs
For many families, the reality is that they will need to pay for home care out-of-pocket. These private pay home care rates vary depending on location, care agency, and the services required.
Families typically pay caregivers directly or through home care agencies. The 2025 median agency rate for a non-medical caregiver was $30 an hour in the San Antonio area and $35 nationally, according to CareScout. Families pay our agency directly, and the hourly rate depends on visit length, as shown above.
The challenge is that costs associated with home care can pile up quickly. Even modest schedules can add thousands of dollars monthly, which may strain family budgets if long-term support is needed.
Role of long-term care insurance and coverage for home health care
To manage expenses, some families turn to long-term care insurance, which can help cover part of the cost of home care. However, not all policies are created equal. Coverage often depends on:
- The level of care required.
- Whether the insurance recognizes in-home health care services as eligible expenses.
- Daily or lifetime benefit caps.
Medicare pays for some short-term skilled care at home, such as home health visits after a hospital stay. Between those visits, our hospital to home care can help with meals, bathing and rides. Medicare does not pay for help with bathing, dressing and other daily activities when that is the only care a person needs. Our post on whether Medicare covers care at home explains the limits. One exception: for people with Original Medicare and a dementia diagnosis, the Medicare GUIDE program can pay for some respite care each year. Our agency is an approved respite provider for PocketRN’s GUIDE program, and we can help with the paperwork. See how our GUIDE dementia respite care works.
Medicaid pays for long-term care for people who meet its income limits and other state rules. Our agency is private pay and does not accept Medicaid.
Government programs, social services, and financial aid options
Government support is limited but still worth exploring. Veterans and surviving spouses who get a VA pension may qualify for Aid and Attendance for veterans and survivors, a monthly payment added to the pension for people who need help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding and dressing. We are not a VA provider and do not bill the VA, but we can help your family understand the application. Our post on using Aid and Attendance to pay for home care covers who qualifies. Plan for a wait, because approval can take months. Families can start private-pay care while a VA or GUIDE decision is pending.
Families should always check eligibility for these options for home care services because they can reduce the cost of care per day significantly. Exploring financial aid, tax credits, or community-based assistance can also make the high cost of care more manageable.
Benefits of Home Care Beyond the Costs
Quality of care and personalized care plans
While the cost of home care varies, the benefits extend far beyond numbers on a bill. One of the greatest advantages is the quality of care delivered through personalized care. Unlike institutional settings where staff attend to multiple residents at once, home care provides one-on-one attention.
Families can develop a personalized care plan that matches the exact care needs of their loved one. This flexibility ensures that the services required, whether it’s personal care, mobility support, or even home health aide services, are delivered without unnecessary extras.
Such mix of tailored services allows older adults to remain independent while still receiving the right level of support. It also ensures that care provided evolves over time, adjusting as health conditions change.
Emotional and social benefits of staying at home
The benefits of home care are not just practical, they’re emotional, too. Staying in familiar surroundings offers comfort and reduces stress for older adults. It means being close to family, friends, and community, which plays a huge role in mental well-being.
In a 2024 AARP survey of adults 50 and older, 75 percent said they want to stay in their current homes as they age. For families, there’s peace of mind knowing that care is delivered in a setting filled with love and familiarity.
Flexibility and a mix of tailored services
Another major advantage is flexibility. Home care services can be scaled up or down depending on the level of care required. For example:
- After surgery, a senior might need daily nursing care and therapy for a few months.
- Once recovered, they might only require homemaker services twice a week.
This ability to customize makes home care often more adaptable than rigid institutional care. It’s not just about lower cost of living, it’s about making sure the right care options are available when needed.
How to Choose the Right Home Care Agency
Evaluating many home care agencies and providers
With so many home care agencies available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. Families should begin by researching local providers, reading reviews, and checking references. A trustworthy care agency will have trained, vetted staff and transparent pricing.
Ask whether the agency is non-medical or a home health agency. Non-medical agencies like ours help with daily living, such as bathing, meals, errands and company. Home health agencies send nurses and therapists for medical care. Many families use both at the same time.
Questions to ask when selecting a care agency
When interviewing care providers, families should ask:
- What are your hourly rates, and what is your minimum visit length?
- Do you provide both personal care and medical services?
- How do you screen and train your home health aides?
- What is your policy if a caregiver cannot attend a scheduled shift?
These questions help families avoid surprises with rates for home care services and ensure they’re working with a professional, reliable team.
Importance of developing a personalized care plan
A reputable care agency will work closely with families to develop a personalized care plan. This ensures that the level of care required is accurately assessed and delivered.
The care plan should outline the hours of care per day, the specific services required, and how care varies if conditions change. Families should review this plan regularly to ensure it still matches their loved one’s needs and budget.
Why Home Care Is a Valuable Investment for Families
The cost of home care depends on many factors, including whether medical or non-medical support is needed, the complexity of care, the number of hours required, and the state’s cost of living, but despite the potential expense, home care often proves more cost-effective and rewarding than institutional options. For families, it’s not just about managing budgets with tools like long-term care insurance, social services, or other payment options for home care, it’s about investing in dignity, independence, and comfort. By allowing older adults to remain safe and happy at home, surrounded by familiarity and loved ones, home care offers both financial and emotional value that assisted living or nursing facilities can’t always match.
If you are weighing care for a parent in our area, Assisting Hands Home Care of Northeast San Antonio provides non-medical, private-pay care out of our office in Bulverde, serving Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe and Kendall counties. Our caregivers help with bathing, dressing, meals, light housekeeping, errands and companionship. They do not provide medical care such as wound care or injections. Care can usually start within a day or two. Call (210) 405-4059 for a free in-home consultation and an exact quote.
At part-time hours, care at home often costs less than a facility, and your parent keeps their own routines and neighbors. For many families, that makes the cost of home care worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How much does in-home care cost?
In 2025, the national median for a non-medical caregiver was $35 an hour, and the San Antonio area median was $30, according to CareScout. At 44 hours a week, that comes to about $6,673 a month nationally and $5,720 locally. At our agency, rates are about $40 an hour for a 2-hour visit, about $34 an hour for 3 to 4 hours, and about $31 an hour for 5 hours or more. - What factors affect the cost of home care services?
Several factors influence the cost of home care services, including:
- The level of care required (non-medical personal care vs. skilled nursing).
- The hours of care per day or whether care is needed around the clock.
- The location and cost of living in the state.
- Whether specialized services such as wound care or therapy are needed.
The more complex the care needs, the higher the care cost will be.
- Is home care more affordable than assisted living or nursing homes?
Yes, in many cases. Home care is often more affordable than institutional care when only part-time or moderate assistance is required. In the San Antonio area, CareScout’s 2025 medians were $5,885 a month for assisted living and $6,372 a month for a shared nursing home room. When care is needed around the clock, home care can cost more than either.
- How can families pay for home care services?
Families can use a variety of payment options for home care, such as:
Most families pay privately, using income and savings. Long-term care insurance may pay part of the cost, depending on the policy. Veterans and surviving spouses who get a VA pension may qualify for Aid and Attendance, a monthly payment added to the pension. For people with Original Medicare and dementia, the GUIDE program can cover some respite care. Our care is private pay, and we do not accept Medicaid or VA Community Care.
What are the main benefits of home care besides financial savings?
The benefits of home care go far beyond cost. They include:
Home care offers personalized attention tailored to individual needs, the emotional comfort of remaining in a familiar environment, and a higher quality of care through one-on-one support. It also provides the flexibility to adjust services as needs change, and helps maintain stronger social connections with family and community. For many families, these advantages make home care a valuable and meaningful choice.
