Comparing the Basics: Home Care vs. Assisted Living

Families evaluating senior care options often weigh the benefits of remaining at home against moving to a residential community. Home care provides one-on-one assistance in your loved one’s current residence. Assisted living provides a private unit in a licensed residence where staff help with daily needs.

Pennsylvania Facility Licensing: Assisted Living vs. Personal Care Homes

When researching senior living options in Pennsylvania, you will see two distinct facility types. The state licenses Personal Care Homes (PCH) and Assisted Living Residences (ALR) separately through the DHS Bureau of Human Services Licensing. Under Act 56 of 2007, only a licensed ALR may use the term “assisted living.”

Assisted Living Residences are designed so residents can age in place as their needs increase. ALR units are private, similar to a studio apartment. Personal Care Homes may have shared bedrooms accommodating up to four people. Personal care homes are not required to have medical staff. DHS inspects both types every year.

Home care agencies, by contrast, are licensed under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. These agencies supply non-skilled services like personal care, companionship, and respite care directly in the consumer’s home.

Cost Comparison Math in Pennsylvania

According to the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey, the Pennsylvania statewide median for a non-medical caregiver is $34 per hour. The median base cost for a private one-bedroom in an assisted living community is $6,350 per month, or $77,760 per year. To understand the cost of home care versus a facility, you must calculate your loved one’s required hours.

If your loved one needs 30 hours of home care per week, the arithmetic from the statewide median ($34/hour) equals $1,020 per week, or roughly $53,040 per year. This is significantly less than the base cost of assisted living. If they require 44 hours of care per week, the median cost reaches $6,483 per month, which closely aligns with the assisted living median.

Around-the-clock care changes the math entirely. At the PA median of $34 per hour, 24 hours of hourly care equals $816 per day, or $5,712 per week. Families needing 24/7 supervision often compare home care to nursing facilities, which cost a median of $393 per day ($143,445 per year) for a semi-private room in Pennsylvania.

Need help arranging home care services in Philadelphia? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form and select “I am a client” then “I need services.” Our office staff speaks English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Medicaid and Financial Assistance Differences

How you pay for care depends heavily on the setting you choose. For individuals who are financially and functionally eligible, Pennsylvania Medicaid waiver programs offer substantial help at home. The Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver covers Personal Assistance Services (PAS), which includes help with eating, bathing, dressing, and routine support.

To get waiver services, applicants must undergo a Functional Eligibility Determination (FED) by the local Area Agency on Aging. In Philadelphia, this is the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA). If approved, the CHC service coordinator sets the approved PAS hours in the participant’s person-centered service plan.

For assisted living, ask the County Assistance Office (CAO) or your specific CHC plan about exact coverage rules for residential facilities.

Alternative Support Programs

If your loved one wants to stay home but needs financial help, other state programs exist. The PA Caregiver Support Program, delivered by Area Agencies on Aging, offers reimbursement of caregiving expenses up to a maximum of $600 per month based on the caregiver’s reimbursement percentage. It reimburses caregiving expenses; it is not a wage.

Another option is the LIFE program (Pennsylvania’s PACE). To meet LIFE program requirements, an individual must be 55 or older, functionally eligible for a nursing facility, financially eligible for Medical Assistance, and able to live safely in the community within a LIFE provider’s service area.

Who Home Care Fits Best

• Adults who strongly prefer to remain in their own familiar environment.
• People who need one-on-one, undivided attention for specific tasks like bathing or meal preparation.
• Families who only need care for specific portions of the day or week, allowing them to control costs.
• Individuals who have a strong local network of family and friends to provide supervision when an aide is not present.
• Couples who want to stay living together even if only one spouse requires assistance.

Who Assisted Living Fits Best

• Adults who feel isolated at home and want a structured social community with group activities.
• People who need intermittent help available 24/7 but do not require complex skilled nursing.
• Individuals who can no longer maintain a household or manage daily chores safely.
• Families who live far away and cannot provide daily oversight or manage a home care schedule.

Ready to start home care? Contact New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or submit our website form by choosing “I am a client” and “I need services” to discuss your options.