Home Care in New Hampshire

The average starting cost of home care in New Hampshire is $39 per hour, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Based on our ranking methodology, the top-rated home care agencies in New Hampshire are Cornerstone Caregiving - Manchester, NH, Cornerstone Caregiving - Dover, NH or Home Instead - Portsmouth, NH. Home care can help older adults remain in familiar surroundings while receiving support with daily routines, companionship, and personal care.

From Manchester and Nashua to Concord, Dover, Londonderry, and smaller communities, New Hampshire families may have different provider options depending on where they live. When comparing agencies, families often look for dependable caregivers, flexible schedules, and services that can adjust as their loved one’s needs change.

Home care provides nonmedical support with everyday activities, such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and companionship. Home health care is different because it involves medical services delivered by licensed health professionals. Some providers offer both types of care, but A Place for Mom’s network focuses on nonmedical home care agencies. A Place for Mom partners with 27 home care agencies in New Hampshire to help families explore local options.

Home care in New Hampshire costs $39 per hour, compared with the national average rate of $32 per hour. What a family pays will also depend on the agency, the services provided, and how often their loved one receives care.

Monthly expenses are largely shaped by the care schedule. Occasional visits may be enough for companionship, errands, meal preparation, or light housekeeping. Someone who needs regular help with bathing, dressing, mobility, or other personal care may need a fuller schedule. The estimates below use New Hampshire’s average hourly home care rate:

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $3,343 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $7,355 per month

Home care rates in New Hampshire 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 in the local area
• Agency minimum-hour requirements

New Hampshire families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits or New Hampshire Medicaid programs may help cover some services delivered at home.

Private pay options

Private pay gives families more flexibility when choosing an agency, arranging a schedule, and deciding which services their loved one receives. Common private payment sources include:

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

Families may rely on one payment source or combine several. For example, long-term care insurance may cover part of the cost, while Social Security benefits, retirement income, or savings help with the remaining monthly expenses.

VA benefits

Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in New Hampshire 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]

New Hampshire families can contact the New Hampshire Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services for help understanding state and federal benefits or connecting with a Veterans Service Officer.^[06]

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

New Hampshire Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. New Hampshire Medicaid may help eligible residents receive personal care through Personal Care Attendant Services (PCAS), which is available through the regular state plan, and broader home- and community-based support through the Choices for Independence (CFI) waiver.^[07,08]

PCAS may help eligible members with activities of daily living and other approved tasks identified in their care plans. CFI serves older adults and adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities who would otherwise need a nursing facility level of care. Applicants must meet Medicaid’s financial requirements and complete a clinical assessment.^[07,08]

Depending on the person’s approved care plan, CFI services may include:^[08]

• Personal care services
• Homemaker services, such as meal preparation, laundry, light housekeeping, shopping, and errands
• Respite care
• Home-delivered meals
• Nonmedical transportation
• Personal emergency response systems

CFI offers agency-directed services and Participant Directed and Managed Services. The participant-directed option allows eligible members to help select, hire, schedule, and supervise workers with support from a financial management services provider.^[08]

PCAS is a State Plan service for members who meet its eligibility and coverage requirements. CFI is an approved 1915(c) waiver with separate financial, clinical, and enrollment requirements.^[07,09]

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?

New Hampshire licenses agencies that provide nonmedical personal care or homemaker services through employees. These businesses are called home care service provider agencies and are licensed according to the services they provide. Home health care providers that offer skilled medical services follow separate licensing requirements. Because A Place for Mom’s network consists of nonmedical home care providers, the information below focuses on the rules for home care service provider agencies.^[11,12]

Does New Hampshire require home care agencies to have a license?

Yes. An agency that provides personal care or homemaker services through employees must obtain a New Hampshire home care service provider agency license. A business that provides only homemaker services may receive a license limited to homemaker services, while one that provides only personal care may receive a license limited to personal care services. Independent individuals who solicit and provide paid home care services outside a licensed agency must register separately unless they provide care only to a family member.^[11,12]

Does New Hampshire conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Yes. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services completes an initial inspection before licensing a home care service provider agency. After licensure, home care service provider agencies are inspected at least once every 24 months. The state may also investigate complaints and complete follow-up inspections when needed.^[12,13]

What are hiring practices for home care agencies in New Hampshire?

Licensed home care service provider agencies must complete New Hampshire criminal records checks and Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services registry checks for applicable workers. Agencies must also verify qualifications and maintain personnel records.^[12]

Caregivers must receive orientation before having direct contact with clients and complete annual in-service education. Workers providing personal care must also receive position-specific instruction and demonstrate that they can safely perform the tasks assigned to them.^[12]

Workers hired through Medicaid’s participant-directed programs must meet separate program enrollment and employment requirements. The participant directs the worker’s day-to-day responsibilities with support from the program’s financial management services provider.

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 in New Hampshire is easier when you know how care will be arranged and what happens if your loved one’s needs 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:

• Review caregiver training. Ask what caregivers learn before working with clients 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.

A Place for Mom helps families compare home care agencies and find providers that match their loved one’s care needs, budget, and preferences. In states that require nonmedical home care agencies to be licensed, A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.

Read more: How to Choose a Home Care Agency