What are in-home care services? In-home care refers to a wide range of support services delivered directly in a person’s home to help them remain safe, independent, and comfortable as they age or manage health challenges. Rather than relocating to assisted living or a nursing facility, individuals receive help where they live—often allowing them to maintain routines, dignity, and familiarity for much longer.

At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we speak with families every day who are trying to answer a difficult question: “How do we keep Mom or Dad at home safely without exhausting retirement savings?” In-home care is often the first step in the long-term care journey, but understanding what services exist, how care evolves over time, and how it is paid for is critical to avoiding both financial and emotional strain.

What In-Home Care Services Typically Include

In-home care is not a single service but a spectrum of support that can be adjusted as needs change. Some individuals require only occasional help with daily tasks, while others eventually need consistent, hands-on assistance throughout the day.

Most in-home care begins with non-medical support, such as help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and mobility. Caregivers may also assist with meal preparation, light housekeeping, transportation, and companionship—services that reduce isolation and improve safety.

As care needs increase, in-home services may expand to include medication reminders, supervision for cognitive decline, or coordination with visiting nurses and therapists. In some cases, physician-ordered home health services—such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, or wound care—are layered in alongside custodial care.

This gradual, flexible approach allows families to increase care incrementally rather than making abrupt decisions during a crisis.

Activities of Daily Living and Why They Matter

Care decisions are often guided by a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). These include bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating. Difficulty with two or more ADLs is commonly used by long-term care insurance policies as a trigger for benefits.

Equally important are instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as managing medications, preparing meals, shopping, handling finances, and transportation. Loss of IADL independence is frequently the earliest signal that in-home care may soon be necessary—even if basic self-care is still intact.

Understanding these distinctions helps families plan earlier, rather than waiting until care becomes urgent or overwhelming.

Who Provides In-Home Care?

In-home care can be delivered through several different provider models, each with advantages and tradeoffs.

Home care agencies supply trained caregivers for non-medical assistance and handle scheduling, background checks, payroll, and supervision. While agency care typically costs more per hour, it offers reliability and backup staffing.

Home health agencies provide skilled medical services ordered by a physician, such as nursing visits or therapy. These services are often short-term and medical in nature.

Private or family caregivers may reduce hourly costs, but families take on the responsibility of hiring, managing schedules, handling taxes, and ensuring compliance with labor laws.

The right approach often depends on care intensity, family availability, and long-term financial planning.

The Real Cost of In-Home Care

In-home care costs vary widely by region, hours of care, and level of assistance required. Part-time support may cost several thousand dollars per month, while extended or near full-time care can approach—or exceed—the cost of assisted living.

One of the most common misconceptions is that Medicare will pay for ongoing in-home care. In reality, Medicare typically covers only short-term, medically necessary home health services—not long-term custodial care.

Because care often lasts years rather than months, families who plan early are far better positioned to manage costs without draining retirement assets.

How Long-Term Care Insurance Supports Care at Home

Modern long-term care insurance is designed to support care in the setting most people prefer: their home. Once benefit triggers are met—such as needing help with ADLs or experiencing cognitive impairment—policies may reimburse for home health aides, skilled nursing visits, adult day care, and care coordination.

Features such as elimination periods, daily benefit limits, and inflation protection play a significant role in how effectively coverage supports long-term in-home care. Reviewing these details before care is needed allows families to use benefits efficiently and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Many policies also integrate well with shared benefit designs or return-of-premium options, providing flexibility and protection for couples.

How Families Commonly Pay for In-Home Care

Most families rely on a combination of funding sources over time. Early care is often paid from income or savings, but as needs increase, insurance benefits or hybrid solutions become essential. Government programs such as Medicaid or VA benefits may help in limited circumstances, though eligibility rules are strict.

Strategic planning allows families to use insurance first—preserving retirement income and reducing financial stress as care needs grow.

Signs It May Be Time to Consider In-Home Care

Families frequently wait for a crisis before acting. However, warning signs often appear well in advance, including missed medications, declining hygiene, frequent falls, unpaid bills, driving concerns, or noticeable memory changes.

Introducing in-home care earlier often improves outcomes, reduces risk, and gives both the individual and family time to adjust.

Planning Ahead Makes All the Difference

Effective care planning looks beyond today’s needs and asks difficult—but necessary—questions. How long could care be self-funded? Who coordinates caregivers and medical providers? What happens if a spouse or adult child can no longer provide support?

Long-term care insurance is often used to answer those questions by creating a dedicated pool of funds for care at home and beyond—protecting both dignity and financial independence.

How Diversified Insurance Brokers Helps

As a family-owned, independent agency serving clients nationwide since 1980, Diversified Insurance Brokers helps families evaluate in-home care needs within the broader context of retirement and asset protection.

Our advisors assist with estimating future care costs, reviewing existing coverage, comparing traditional and hybrid long-term care insurance solutions, and coordinating care planning with retirement income strategies—so families can make informed decisions before a crisis occurs.