Providing non-medical in-home care for 23 years in Fort Thomas and Northern Kentucky
Providing non-medical in-home care for 23 years in Fort Thomas and Northern Kentucky
Inside this guide Simple answers about home care costs, private pay, long-term care insurance, veterans benefits, Kentucky Medicaid waiver programs, Medicare limitations, and how to begin planning for support at home. |
Serving Alexandria, Cold Spring, Erlanger, Florence, Fort Mitchell, Fort Thomas, Fort Wright, Union, Villa Hills, Wilder, and nearby Northern Kentucky communities.
Connecting Hearts Home Care |
Quick answer Home care in Northern Kentucky is usually paid for privately, through long-term care insurance, certain veterans benefits, or Kentucky Medicaid waiver programs for those who qualify. Medicare may cover limited medical home health services when requirements are met, but it generally does not pay for ongoing non-medical help with daily living when that is the only care needed. In Kentucky, the 2024 statewide median cost was about $32 per hour for homemaker services and $34 per hour for home health aide services, according to the Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey. Actual costs vary based on the number of hours needed, the type of support required, the schedule, and whether care is short-term, ongoing, overnight, or around-the-clock. [2] |
This guide is for general education only. It is not legal, financial, insurance, tax, or benefits advice. Program rules, insurance policies, and eligibility requirements can change. Families should confirm details directly with the relevant benefit program, insurer, plan administrator, or qualified professional.
If you are researching home care costs, you are not alone. AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving reported in 2025 that approximately 63 million Americans are family caregivers, a nearly 50% increase since 2015. They also reported that one in every four adults is a caregiver, and more than 40% of caregivers provide high-intensity care. [1]
For many families in Fort Thomas and across Northern Kentucky, the question is not only, “Do we need help?” It is also, “How much will home care cost, and how are we supposed to pay for it?”
Home care is non-medical support provided in a person’s home. It helps older adults remain safer, more comfortable, and more supported with everyday life.
Home care is different from medical home health care. Home health care usually involves skilled nursing, therapy, or medical services ordered by a provider. Medicare describes covered home health care as certain health services provided at home for an illness or injury when specific requirements are met. [3]
Home care is usually billed by the hour. The total monthly cost depends on how many hours of support are needed. The figures below are statewide Kentucky medians from the 2024 Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, not a quote from Connecting Hearts Home Care. [2]
Type of Care | Kentucky Median Hourly Cost | Kentucky Median Monthly Cost | Survey Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
Homemaker services | $32/hour | $6,101/month | 44 hours/week |
Home health aide services | $34/hour | $6,483/month | 44 hours/week |
These simple planning examples use Kentucky’s 2024 median hourly range of $32 to $34 per hour. They are estimates only and should not be treated as a formal quote. [2]
Weekly Care Hours | Approximate Monthly Range |
10 hours/week | About $1,386 to $1,472/month |
20 hours/week | About $2,771 to $2,944/month |
40 hours/week | About $5,542 to $5,889/month |
44 hours/week | About $6,101 to $6,483/month |
This is usually the biggest factor. A senior who needs companionship twice a week will usually cost less than someone who needs daily personal care or overnight support.
Companion care may include conversation, errands, meals, and light housekeeping. Personal care may include hands-on help with bathing, dressing, grooming, hygiene, mobility, and toileting.
Care may cost more depending on evenings, weekends, holidays, overnight care, 24-hour care, or short-notice needs.
Some agencies have minimum visit lengths. Families should ask about minimum hours per visit before starting care.
Some families only need short-term support after surgery, illness, hospitalization, or rehab. Others need ongoing care for months or years.
Rates can vary by state, region, market, and caregiver availability. Northern Kentucky families may also see differences based on how quickly care is needed and where the home is located.
Home care is paid for in several different ways. The right option depends on the person’s situation, benefits, insurance coverage, income, assets, and care needs.
Many families pay privately for non-medical home care. Private pay may come from personal savings, retirement income, family contributions, pension income, Social Security income, the sale of assets, or other personal resources.
Private pay often gives families flexibility because they can usually choose the care schedule, services, and number of hours based on what they need.
Long-term care insurance may help pay for care at home, depending on the policy. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners explains that long-term care services may include help with activities of daily living, home care, respite care, adult day care, assisted living, nursing home care, or hospice care. Coverage depends on the policy terms. [4]
Families should review the daily or monthly benefit amount, elimination period, whether non-medical home care is covered, how claims are submitted, and whether the agency must meet certain licensing or certification requirements.
Some veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for benefits that can help with care. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits provide monthly payments added to a VA pension for qualified veterans and survivors. For Aid and Attendance, a person may qualify if they receive a VA pension and need another person to help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding, and dressing, among other eligibility pathways. [5]
Not every veteran qualifies. Families should ask whether the veteran or surviving spouse is eligible for VA pension, whether help is needed with daily activities, and what documentation is required.
Some Kentucky families may qualify for Medicaid-funded home and community-based services. Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services explains that 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services waiver programs cover services for individuals who are aged or have a disability and require long-term support to remain living at home or in the community. Services vary by waiver and assessed need, and may include offerings such as personal care and respite. [6]
One important program is the Home and Community Based Waiver, often called the HCB waiver. Kentucky describes the HCB waiver as assistance for older adults or people with physical disabilities to help them live in the community as independently as possible. [7]
Kentucky says HCB waiver services may include adult day health care, attendant care, home-delivered meals, respite care, and environmental or minor home adaptations. Kentucky also notes eligibility requirements and a waiting list for HCB services and supports. [7]
Important Kentucky Medicaid note Medicaid waiver rules are detailed and may change. Families should confirm eligibility, services, waiting lists, and provider requirements directly with Kentucky Medicaid, kynect, the proper state agency, or a qualified benefits counselor. |
This is where many families get confused. Medicare may cover certain home health services if a person qualifies. Covered home health services may include medically necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, therapy, medical social services, and part-time or intermittent home health aide care when the person is also receiving skilled care. [3]
Medicare says it does not pay for 24-hour-a-day care at home, home meal delivery, homemaker services like shopping and cleaning when they are unrelated to the care plan, or custodial/personal care such as bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom when that is the only care needed. [3]
That means Medicare is usually not the payment source for ongoing non-medical home care when the main need is daily help, supervision, companionship, meals, bathing, dressing, or respite.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer supplemental benefits that Original Medicare does not offer. Benefits vary by plan, county, and year. Families should call the plan directly and ask whether any in-home support benefits are available, whether non-medical services are covered, whether there are hour limits, and whether prior authorization or in-network provider requirements apply.
Home care is flexible because families can often choose how many hours are needed. That makes it different from assisted living or nursing home care, which are usually billed monthly.
In Kentucky, the 2024 statewide median cost for assisted living was about $4,900 per month. The median cost for a nursing home semi-private room was about $8,730 per month, and a private room was about $9,946 per month. [2]
This does not mean one option is always cheaper or better. It depends on the level of care needed. Home care may be more affordable when a person needs part-time help. Assisted living or nursing home care may become part of the discussion when needs are extensive, continuous, or no longer safe to manage at home.
Families do not always need to start with a large schedule. Some begin with a few hours a week for companionship, meals, errands, light housekeeping, bathing support, or caregiver relief. Others need more frequent help because of dementia, fall risk, recent hospitalization, mobility issues, personal care needs, family caregiver burnout, or overnight safety concerns.
A good starting question What part of the day feels most unsafe, stressful, or difficult right now? That answer can help shape the first care schedule. |
A few hours per week: May help with companionship, errands, meals, light housekeeping, or caregiver relief.
Several visits per week: May be useful when a loved one needs help bathing, dressing, preparing meals, or maintaining routines.
Daily care: May help when safety, hygiene, nutrition, or memory concerns are increasing.
Overnight care: May be helpful when a loved one is at risk for falls, wandering, confusion, or anxiety at night.
24-hour care: May be considered when a person should not be alone due to advanced dementia, high fall risk, major mobility concerns, or major family caregiver exhaustion.
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Myth 1: Medicare pays for all home care. Medicare may cover certain skilled home health services for eligible people, but it does not pay for ongoing 24-hour care, meal delivery, homemaker services unrelated to the care plan, or custodial/personal care when that is the only care needed. [3]
Myth 2: Home care has to be full-time. Many families begin with a few hours per week. Care can often be adjusted as needs change.
Myth 3: Long-term care insurance always covers everything. Coverage depends on the policy. Families should confirm benefit amounts, waiting periods, covered services, and documentation requirements. [4]
Myth 4: Medicaid waiver services are automatic. Kentucky waiver services have eligibility rules, level-of-care requirements, financial qualifications, and may involve waiting lists. [7]
Myth 5: Home care is only for people who need bathing help. Home care may also help with companionship, meals, errands, light housekeeping, transportation, safety supervision, respite care, and hospital-to-home support.
Connecting Hearts Home Care helps Northern Kentucky families understand care options and build a plan that fits real life.
We serve families in Alexandria, Cold Spring, Erlanger, Florence, Fort Mitchell, Fort Thomas, Fort Wright, Union, Villa Hills, Wilder, and surrounding Northern Kentucky communities.
Families often call us when they are asking:
You do not need to have every answer before calling. A conversation can help you understand possible next steps and what level of support may make sense for your family. |
Home care costs depend mostly on the number of hours needed, the type of support required, and the schedule. Some families pay privately. Some use long-term care insurance. Some may qualify for veterans benefits or Kentucky Medicaid waiver programs. Medicare may help with certain skilled home health services, but it usually does not pay for ongoing non-medical daily support when that is the only care needed.
The best first step is to identify what kind of help is needed, how often help may be needed, and which payment options may apply.
Connecting Hearts Home Care |
[1] AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving. Caregiving in the US 2025. Published July 24, 2025. https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/caregiving-in-the-us-2025/
[2] Genworth/CareScout. Cost of Care Survey 2024: Ranked State Data Tables. Published 2025. https://assets.carescout.com/a41bb6478c/298701.pdf
[3] Medicare.gov. Home health services coverage. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services
[4] National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Consumer Long-Term Care Insurance. https://content.naic.org/consumer/long-term-care-insurance.htm
[5] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Aid and Attendance benefits and Housebound allowance. https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/
[6] Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver Programs. https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/dca/Pages/HCBSWaiver.aspx
[7] Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Home and Community Based Waiver. https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dms/dca/Pages/hcb-waiver.aspx
Accessed July 13, 2026.
