How Much Does Home Care Cost in Philadelphia? (2026)
How Much Does Home Care Cost in Philadelphia? (2026)
Short answer: The median cost for a non-medical home care worker in Pennsylvania is $34 per hour, according to the 2025 CareScout survey. Full-time care costs an estimated $6,483 per month. Philadelphia agency rates vary based on your specific schedule.
- Pennsylvania’s median hourly rate for non-medical in-home care is $34.
- Full-time care (44 hours per week) costs about $6,483 per month based on state medians.
- Agencies handle payroll taxes, training, and worker insurance, which is factored into the hourly rate.
- Pennsylvania Medicaid (Community HealthChoices) and VA benefits can cover these costs for eligible residents.
The Numbers: Pennsylvania Medians from CareScout 2025
The 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey provides the most recent benchmark for senior care pricing. CareScout publishes a Pennsylvania statewide median, as a Philadelphia-specific figure is not available. Your exact hourly rate from a local agency may differ from this state average.
CareScout combines home health aide and homemaker rates into a single category called “non-medical caregiver.” The survey data, collected between July and November 2025, highlights the following median care costs:
| Care Type | Median Hourly Rate | Estimated Monthly Cost | Estimated Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Medical Caregiver (Pennsylvania) | $34 | $6,483 (at 44 hours/week) | $77,792 |
| Non-Medical Caregiver (US National) | $35 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Private Duty Nurse (Pennsylvania) | $71 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Adult Day Health Care (Pennsylvania) | N/A | $2,535 (based on $117/day) | $30,420 |
Monthly Cost by Schedule
We calculated estimated weekly and monthly costs using the $34 per hour Pennsylvania median to help you budget. These figures are estimates based on statewide arithmetic, not a specific quote from New Century Home Care.
| Hours per Week | Estimated Weekly Cost | Estimated Monthly Cost (52 weeks / 12 months) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | $340 | $1,473 |
| 20 hours | $680 | $2,946 |
| 30 hours | $1,020 | $4,420 |
| 44 hours | $1,496 | $6,483 |
| 168 hours (24/7 care) | $5,712 | $24,752 |
At the Pennsylvania median of $34 per hour, 24 hours of continuous hourly care equals $816 per day, or $5,712 per week. Live-in arrangements are priced differently by agencies, so your actual around-the-clock care expenses will vary.
Home Care vs. Home Health Care Costs
When budgeting for in-home support, you must distinguish between non-medical home care and Medicare home health services. The type of care dictates who pays the bill.
Medicare covers short-term, part-time skilled home health care at $0 cost for eligible homebound patients. This includes skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Medicare will also pay for a home health aide, but only when provided alongside skilled care. Medicare does not cover 24-hour care or non-medical personal care when that is the only assistance you need.
Non-medical home care agencies provide non-skilled services. Aides do not perform wound care, administer injections, manage IVs, or conduct nursing assessments. Instead, they assist with daily living. Families pay out of pocket or use Medicaid and VA programs to cover these non-medical costs.
Why Home Care Rates Differ
The $34 per hour figure is a median. The actual private pay home care rates you find in Philadelphia depend on the level of care, the schedule, and the hiring method.
- Care level: Basic companionship services focus on socialization and assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). IADLs include preparing meals, doing housework, doing laundry, shopping, and using transportation. Personal care involves hands-on assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, transferring, and toileting. Specialized care for conditions like dementia or Parkinson’s disease requires additional caregiver skills and may cost more.
- Schedule: Agencies may charge different rates for nights, weekends, or short shifts compared to standard daytime weekday hours.
- Live-in vs. hourly: If a caregiver sleeps at the home (live-in care), the daily rate is structured differently than paying an hourly rate for 24 hours of continuous awake care.
- Agency vs. private hire: Hiring an independent caregiver directly might look cheaper per hour, but you become the employer. You must handle payroll taxes, background checks, and workers’ compensation insurance. A licensed home care agency manages all employer responsibilities and legal compliance.
What Aides Earn vs. What You Pay
Families often wonder why agency rates are higher than the wages caregivers take home. The hourly rate you pay an agency covers much more than just the worker’s paycheck.
According to 2025 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median market wage for home health and personal care aides in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area is $14.33 per hour. The 75th percentile earns $16.63 per hour. The gap between the $14.33 worker wage and the $34 agency fee covers the cost of operating safely and legally.
Agencies pay employer payroll taxes, liability insurance, and workers’ compensation. They also fund the administrative work required by Pennsylvania law (28 Pa. Code Chapter 611). Before assigning a caregiver, agencies must obtain criminal history reports, conduct two-way video or in-person interviews, verify at least two references from people not related to the applicant, and ensure the worker passes a competency exam. Agencies also pay for annual tuberculosis (TB) screening and the office staff who schedule and supervise care.
Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or contact us online to discuss your specific care needs. Choose “I am a client” and “I need services” on our form. Our Philadelphia office staff speaks English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
Ways to Pay Less or Nothing Out of Pocket
Many families do not pay for home care entirely out of pocket. You can fund senior care through several government programs and insurance options.
Medicaid (Community HealthChoices)
The Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver pays for Personal Assistance Services for adults 21 and older who require a nursing facility level of care. If approved, Medicaid covers the cost of the home care agency. Read more about PA Medicaid for home care.
To qualify financially in 2026, an individual applicant’s income cannot exceed 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate, which is $2,982 per month. Countable resources are limited to $8,000 for an unmarried applicant. For married couples, spousal impoverishment rules allow the non-applying community spouse to keep at least $32,532 in resources. The County Assistance Office (CAO) will also conduct a 5-year look-back to review any transfers of assets for less than fair market value.
PHLP says the application should not take more than 90 days. You begin by calling the Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) at 1-877-550-4227. The IEB sends a Physician Certification form to your doctor, who should return it within five business days. An assessor from the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) will then visit to conduct the Functional Eligibility Determination (FED). If you receive an eligibility denial notice, contact the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) helpline at 1-800-274-3258 for free legal assistance to request a fair hearing.
Paid Family Caregiving
Through the CHC waiver, you can get paid to care for a family member. The waiver allows relatives to work as paid caregivers through a licensed agency like New Century or through the Services My Way participant-directed option. The CHC waiver will not pay services furnished by the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans can access VA home care programs. The VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care program pays for trained aides to help with daily activities. Alternatively, veterans receiving a VA pension with Aid and Attendance can use those funds to pay for private home care. The 2026 Maximum Annual Pension Rate for a veteran with no dependents requiring Aid and Attendance is $29,093. Start by asking your VA social worker at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia.
Long-Term Care Insurance
If your loved one has a policy, it may cover non-medical home care. Long-term care insurance policies have specific daily benefit limits and elimination periods you must meet before they pay. A qualifying Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Partnership policy also protects your assets from Medicaid estate recovery down the line. For every dollar the qualifying policy pays in benefits, you can keep a dollar of assets that would otherwise have to be spent down to qualify for Medicaid.
PA Caregiver Support Program
Administered in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), this program reimburses unpaid caregivers for out-of-pocket caregiving expenses. It can reimburse up to $600 per month for caregiving expenses, based on your reimbursement percentage. This program provides reimbursement for expenses, not caregiver wages. Call the PCA Helpline at 215-765-9040 to apply.
Getting a Quote from New Century
New Century Home Care is a licensed non-medical home care agency located at 101 E Olney Ave #270 in Philadelphia. We provide personal care, companionship, and specialized support for adults across Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties.
Because every family needs a different schedule, we explain our private-pay rates over the phone. We will discuss your loved one’s needs, the hours required, and any payment programs you might qualify for.
Call 215-974-0000 to speak with our team today, or fill out our contact form and select “I am a client” followed by “I need services.”
Frequently asked questions
How much does home care cost per hour in PA?
The median cost for a non-medical caregiver in Pennsylvania is $34 per hour, according to the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey. This rate covers personal care and homemaker services. Your actual hourly rate will depend on the agency, the level of care required, and your specific schedule.
Is it cheaper to live in an assisted living or nursing home?
It depends on the hours. In Pennsylvania, 44 hours a week of home care costs about the same as assisted living, part-time home care costs less, and 24/7 hourly home care costs more than either facility. In Pennsylvania, the median cost for a private one-bedroom in an assisted living community is $77,760 per year. A semi-private room in a nursing home costs $143,445 per year. Meanwhile, 44 hours a week of home care costs about $77,792 per year.
Does insurance cover home health care?
Medicare covers short-term, part-time skilled home health care, such as nursing or physical therapy, at $0 cost for eligible homebound patients. However, Medicare does not pay for non-medical personal care when that is the only care you need. Long-term care insurance policies may cover non-medical home care, depending on the policy terms.
Does Medicaid pay for home care in Philadelphia?
Yes, Pennsylvania Medicaid pays for home care through the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver. The waiver covers Personal Assistance Services for adults 21 and older who meet financial limits and require a nursing facility level of care. You must apply separately for the CHC waiver through the Independent Enrollment Broker.
Non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Medicaid CHC (Keystone First), VA programs and private pay. We speak English, Russian and Ukrainian.
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