Home Care in New York

The average starting cost of home care in New York is $34 per hour, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data. Based on our ranking methodology, the top-rated home care agencies in New York are Steadfast Caregivers, LLC, SYNERGY HomeCare of Westchester - Scarsdale, NY or Senior Helpers of Smithtown, NY. Home care can help older adults remain in familiar surroundings while receiving support with personal care, meals, companionship, and everyday routines.

From New York City and White Plains to Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and smaller communities, provider availability can differ across the state. 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 134 home care agencies in New York to help families compare local options.

Home care in New York costs $34 per hour, compared with the national average rate of $32 per hour. Rates vary across the state, with costs in Albany currently trending a little higher than in Buffalo and Syracuse, while New York City, Rochester, and White Plains are closer to the state average.^[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 New York’s average hourly home care rate:

• Part-time care (20 hours/week): $2,874 per month
• Full-time care (44 hours/week): $6,322 per month

Home care rates in New York 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 York families may use private funds, public benefits, or a combination to pay for nonmedical home care. Depending on eligibility, VA benefits or New York Medicaid 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. 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 York 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:

• 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 York families can contact the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services for free help understanding benefits, preparing claims, gathering documentation, or appealing an unfavorable decision.^[06]

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

New York Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps eligible people pay for health care and long-term services. In New York, the program is called New York State Medicaid. It may help eligible residents pay for nonmedical support at home through Personal Care Services, the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, or the Nursing Home Transition and Diversion Waiver.

The Personal Care Services (PCS) program provides agency-managed help with activities such as housekeeping, meal preparation, bathing, toileting, and grooming. Applicants must be eligible for Medicaid, have a stable medical condition, and complete the state’s assessment process.^[07]

The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) covers similar in-home assistance but allows eligible participants to choose, hire, train, and supervise their own personal assistant. Participants must be able to direct their care or have a designated representative who can do so.^[08] Adults age 21 and older who are newly seeking services must also meet New York’s minimum-needs requirements for both PCS and CDPAP.^[09]

PCS and CDPAP operate through New York’s regular Medicaid State Plan. CDPAP is a self-directed delivery model under the Personal Care Services benefit, rather than a separate waiver program.^[10]

The Nursing Home Transition and Diversion (NHTD) Waiver helps Medicaid-eligible adults remain in or return to the community instead of receiving care in a nursing facility. Applicants must be age 65 or older, or age 18 to 64 with a verified physical disability, and must need a nursing home level of care. Services may include home and community support, respite care, home-delivered meals, environmental modifications, independent living skills training, and service coordination.^[11]

Personal Care Services and CDPAP are State Plan benefits for members who meet the coverage requirements. The NHTD program is a Home and Community-Based Services waiver and is subject to the number of participant spaces approved for the program.

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.^[13]

Read more: Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?

New York requires organizations that provide or arrange home care services to be licensed or certified by the New York State Department of Health. Private-pay agencies that provide nonmedical personal care, homemaker help, and related services generally operate as Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs). Certified home health agencies that provide skilled medical care follow separate requirements.^[14]

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

Yes. A private-pay agency that provides or arranges nonmedical home care services in New York generally must hold a license as a Licensed Home Care Services Agency (LHCSA) from the New York State Department of Health. An organization that also provides certified home health services must meet the separate requirements for those medical services.^[14]

Does New York conduct inspections of home care agencies?

Yes. The New York State Department of Health licenses and inspects Licensed Home Care Services Agencies and may investigate complaints or possible violations. Inspection findings can include standard or serious deficiencies when an agency doesn’t meet state requirements.^[15]

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

Use NYS Health Profiles to verify an agency’s license, see the counties it serves, and review available inspection findings. The profile identifies whether inspections found no deficiencies, standard deficiencies, or serious deficiencies.^[15]

A current license confirms that an agency is authorized to operate, but families should still ask about caregiver consistency, supervision, complaint procedures, and how the agency responds when a scheduled caregiver is unavailable.

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

New York requires personal care aides employed by licensed agencies to complete an approved basic training program or demonstrate equivalent competency. Basic personal care aide training includes at least 40 hours of instruction and supervised practical training.^[16]

Agencies must verify that home care workers meet New York’s qualification requirements, check the New York State Home Care Services Worker Registry, and complete criminal history record checks when required. The registry contains limited information about personal care aides and home health aides who have successfully completed a state-approved training program.

Personal care aides must also complete six hours of in-service education each year.^[19]

When comparing agencies, ask how they verify training, conduct background checks, supervise caregivers, arrange backup care, and respond to 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 has an active New York license. A Place for Mom verifies the licensing status of agencies in its network twice each year.
• Review caregiver training. Ask what caregivers learn before working independently and how the agency verifies training through the state registry.
• 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