Home Care in Pennsylvania

The average starting cost of home care in Pennsylvania is $31 per hour, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Based on our ranking methodology, the top-rated home care agencies in Pennsylvania are Comforcare Home Care of Lansdale, PA, Seniors Helping Seniors of Wheatland, PA or Supportive & Compassionate Services, LLC. Home care can help older adults remain in familiar surroundings while receiving support with personal care, meals, companionship, and everyday routines.

From Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to Allentown, Harrisburg, Erie, Scranton, and smaller communities, provider availability and travel distance can affect a family’s options. Families often compare caregiver reliability, scheduling flexibility, communication, and whether services can adjust as their loved one’s needs change.

Home care provides nonmedical support with activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and companionship. Home health care is different because it includes medical services delivered by licensed health professionals. Some companies provide both, but A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers. A Place for Mom partners with 529 home care agencies in Pennsylvania to help families compare local options.

Home care in Pennsylvania costs $31 per hour, compared with the national average rate of $32 per hour. Rates can differ by market, caregiver availability, travel distance, and scheduling needs.^[01] What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often care is scheduled.

Monthly expenses depend largely on the number and length of caregiver visits. A lighter schedule may provide enough time for companionship, meal preparation, errands, or help around the house. Someone who needs regular assistance with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need more frequent visits. The estimates below use Pennsylvania’s average hourly home care rate:

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $2,601 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $5,722 per month

Home care rates in Pennsylvania may also be affected by:

• The type and amount of help your loved one needs
• Specialized support, such as dementia care
• The number and length of visits
• Evening, overnight, weekend, or holiday schedules
• 24-hour or live-in care
• Caregiver experience and training
• The availability of caregivers and travel distance in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

Pennsylvania families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits or Pennsylvania Medical Assistance programs may help cover some support delivered at home.

Private pay options

Private pay can give families more control over the agency, schedule, and type of assistance their loved one receives. Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. Common private payment sources include:

• Social Security benefits
• Savings, investments, or pensions
• Long-term care insurance
• Life insurance conversion
• Reverse mortgages

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in Pennsylvania may qualify for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that help with care at home. Depending on the program, this support may include help with daily activities, temporary relief for family caregivers, or additional pension payments that can be used toward care.

Veterans enrolled in VA health care may qualify for home- and community-based services, including:^[02,03,04]

• Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care, which may provide help with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, and other daily activities
• Respite Care, which provides short-term support while giving family caregivers time away from caregiving responsibilities

Eligibility and availability can vary based on the veteran’s needs and local VA resources. Some veterans may also have a copay.

VA Aid and Attendance provides additional monthly pension payments to eligible veterans and survivors who need help with daily activities or are largely confined to their homes. Families may be able to use these funds toward the cost of nonmedical home care.^[05]

Pennsylvania families can contact their county director of veterans affairs for free help identifying state and federal benefits, determining eligibility, and preparing claims.^[06]

Read more: Home Care Options for Veterans: Eligibility and Services

Pennsylvania Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. Pennsylvania calls its Medicaid program Medical Assistance. Eligible adults age 21 or older who need long-term services and supports because they meet a nursing facility level of care may receive nonmedical support at home through Community HealthChoices (CHC), Pennsylvania’s managed care program for older adults and people with physical disabilities.

Many people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid receive their coverage through CHC. Home- and community-based long-term services are available only after an assessment shows the person meets a nursing facility level of care and an approved person-centered service plan is developed.^[07]

Depending on the member’s approved plan, services that may help someone remain at home include:^[07,09]

• Personal assistance with bathing, dressing, eating, mobility, hygiene, cueing, and supervision
• Meal planning and household tasks needed to support personal care
• Home-delivered meals
• Respite care
• Personal emergency response systems and TeleCare
• Home and vehicle modifications
• Adult daily living services and service coordination

CHC offers provider-managed and participant-directed options. Participant direction lets the member or a representative hire and manage a personal attendant instead of arranging all care through an agency.^[08,09]

Qualified family members may be paid to provide respite, personal assistance, or participant-directed community supports. CHC does not pay a participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney. Family caregivers must meet the same qualifications as other workers, and service plans that include more than 40 hours per week from one worker require review by the member’s managed care organization.^[09]

Read more: Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered

Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for adults 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities. It may cover limited help with bathing, dressing, grooming, or toileting when your loved one is also receiving qualifying skilled care through Medicare’s home health benefit. Medicare generally doesn’t pay for ongoing personal care, companionship, meal preparation, or housekeeping when those are the only services needed.^[10]

Read more: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

Pennsylvania regulates private-pay nonmedical home care agencies and home care registries through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. A home care agency supplies employees to provide services, while a home care registry refers independent contractors. Home health agencies that provide skilled medical services follow separate rules. Because A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers, the information below focuses on the rules that apply to home care agencies and registries.^{[11,12,13,14]}

Does Pennsylvania require home care agencies to have a license?

Yes. Every home care agency and home care registry must be licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Each physical location must have a separate license, and the license identifies whether the business operates as an agency, a registry, or both.^[11,13]

Does Pennsylvania conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Yes. The Pennsylvania Department of Health inspects home care agencies and registries before issuing an initial license or renewing a license. It may also conduct scheduled or unscheduled on-site surveys and investigate complaints. Reviews can include interviews and an examination of agency records. When inspectors identify deficiencies, the provider must submit and complete an acceptable plan of correction.^[12,13]

How to check licensing and inspection reports for home care agencies in Pennsylvania

Families can use the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Quality Assurance Facility Directory to verify a home care agency or registry and review available inspection information. Search results may include statements of deficiencies and the provider’s plans of correction.^[15] Licensed providers must meet requirements related to:

• Staff qualifications
• Safety protocols
• Care standards

Some agencies may also seek voluntary accreditation from organizations such as The Joint Commission, which can indicate a commitment to meeting nationally recognized quality standards.^[16]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania requires home care agencies and registries to complete a face-to-face interview, obtain at least two satisfactory references, and review a worker’s criminal history before assigning the person to a client. A Pennsylvania State Police background check generally applies to someone who has lived in the state for the previous two years. Workers who have not already done so must complete a federal criminal history review. Child abuse clearances are also required when an agency serves people younger than 18.^[12,13]

Before working independently, a direct care worker must demonstrate they are qualified by holding an appropriate professional license when required, passing a competency examination, or completing an approved training program. Agencies must review competency at least once each year. Direct-contact workers and other staff must also complete tuberculosis screening before client contact and at least annually afterward.^[12,13,14]

When comparing agencies, ask about background checks, reference checks, caregiver training, supervision, backup care, and how the agency handles complaints or missed visits.

Choosing a home care agency is easier when you understand how caregivers are selected, how care will be supervised, and what happens when plans change. Look for a provider that communicates clearly, explains its policies, and can offer the services and schedule your family needs. Consider the following as you compare agencies:

• Verify licensing. Confirm that the agency or registry has a current Pennsylvania license. A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.
• Review caregiver screening. Ask about background checks, reference checks, and how the agency handles concerns about a caregiver.
• Ask about training. Find out what caregivers learn before working independently and whether they receive ongoing education.
• Read reviews and testimonials. Look for patterns in feedback about reliability, communication, compassion, and caregiver consistency.
• Request clear pricing information. Ask about hourly rates, minimum service requirements, weekend or holiday rates, overnight care, cancellation fees, and additional charges.
• Confirm available services. Make sure the agency can provide the support your loved one needs, such as companionship, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, or dementia care.
• Ask how care is supervised. Find out who manages the care plan, how often supervisors check in, and whom your family should contact if your loved one’s needs change.
• Plan for backup care. Ask what the agency does when a scheduled caregiver is sick, late, or unable to visit.
• Meet potential caregivers. A good personality fit can help your loved one feel more comfortable receiving support at home.

Read more: How to Choose a Home Care Agency