As loved ones age, family members must decide what is the best form of care they should receive. Those who want to let them live in their own homes might be shocked at the price tag for a homemaker or a home health aide. Assisted living and nursing homes provide other living options, but some family members may object to moving their loved one out of the house.
Attorney David J. Lorber of the Setauket-based law firm David J. Lorber & Associates, PLLC says deciding what care their loved ones should get is not easy, which is why they should meet with an elder law or guardianship attorney to help make these tough decisions.
According to the Cost of Care Survey by Genworth and CareScout, in 2024, median in-home care costs were $77,792 a year. While that is a 3% decrease in price for a home health aide compared to the previous year, the cost of homemaker services was up 26%. Nursing home costs saw a rise of 5% last year, with residents paying $176,660 annually for a semi-private room and $186,698 a year for a private room.
When it comes to costs, community and assisted living is the most affordable option. The price of being in an assisted living community is $75,600 a year — up 8%, according to Genworth and CareScout. Although adult day health care costs went up by 50%, it is still manageable at an annual cost of only $41,080.
“Family members need to have a serious conversation about what type of care their loved one needs and whether they can afford it,” Lorber says. “If they cannot come to a complete agreement on care choices, they should seek a guardianship and elder law attorney who can provide the proper guidance in situations such as these.”