Home Care in Georgia
With a pleasant climate, overall low cost of living, and access to great hospitals, Georgia is a welcoming place for seniors to enjoy their golden years. Nine of the state’s municipalities are listed on the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, meaning that the communities’ local elected leadership actively works toward creating a great place for people of all ages to live. With these favorable factors, it’s not surprising that 14% of Georgians are aged 65 and over.
The SeniorScore, which is calculated based on 100 data points from four categories, indicates how comfortable a community is for older adults. The SeniorScore for Georgia is 72, which is the same as the national average. The category in which the state scored the highest was Finances, where it earned a score of 70 for a lower-than-average overall cost of living. While it scores the lowest in Recreation & Leisure with a score of 58, Georgia does offer many opportunities for entertainment, including numerous green spaces, shopping centers, and golf courses.
This guide provides an overview of home care costs in Georgia, as well as available financial assistance options and free home care resources.
Top Home Care Agencies in Georgia
Visiting Nurse Health System is a senior home healthcare service provider located in Atlanta, GA at 5775 Glenridge Drive, Ne, Suite E200. They provide in-home personal care services as well as in-home nursing to seniors. Since 1966, they ...
Located in Valdosta, GA at 3169 Inner Perimeter Rd, Public Health Home Health Inc is a senior in-home care provider that offers personal care services as well as in-home nursing services. Since 1966, they have been providing care to seniors ...
Located in Watkinsville, GA at 1551 Jennings Mill Rd Unit 1000a, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior home health care service provider that offers in-home personal care and in-home nursing services. They provide a variety of medical services such ...
Located at 5604 Wendy Bagwell Pkwy Ste 811 in Hiram, GA, Comfort Keepers is a in-home care company that offers in-home medical services and also in-home personal care services. They can provide various medical services including diabetes care, occupational therapy, ...
Located at 3575 Macon Rd Ste 23 in Columbus, GA, Comfort Keepers is a home health care service provider offering in-home nursing care and also home care services. They can provide multiple medical services like diabetes care, licensed nurses on ...
Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services is a senior home healthcare provider based in Alpharetta, GA at 11775 Northfall Ln Ste 207. They offer personal care in addition to in-home health care to senior clientele. They provide a variety of ...
Located at 5200 Dallas Hwy Ste 200 in Powder Springs, GA, Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services is a senior home health care company offering personal home care as well as in-home medical services. They provide multiple personal services like assistance ...
Located in Columbus, Georgia at 3518 Veterans Pkwy Ste D, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior in-home care company that offers personal care services in addition to home health services. They provide multiple personal services including shopping, providing emotional ...
Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services is a home care provider located in Alpharetta, Georgia at 2475 Northwinds Pkwy Ste 200. They offer in-home health care and home care for senior clients. They provide multiple personal services including assistance with ...
Located in Atlanta, GA at 1745 Old Spring House Ln Ste 405, Home Instead Senior Care is a home healthcare service provider that offers personal care services in addition to in-home medical services. They offer different personal services including transportation ...
Located in Dublin, GA at 1101 Hillcrest Pkwy Ste K2, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior in-home care service provider offering in-home care along with home healthcare. They offer different personal services like help with using the toilet, pet ...
Comfort Keepers is a senior in-home care company located in Savannah, GA at 7370 Hodgson Memorial Dr Ste C8. They offer in-home nursing and also in-home personal care services to senior clients. They offer various personal services including transportation ...
Located in Atlanta, GA at 1534 Dunwoody Village Pkwy Ste 204, Home Instead Senior Care is a home health care service provider that offers in-home medical care and also personal home care services. They provide multiple personal services such as ...
Located at 1990 Lakeside Parkway, Suite 210 in Tucker, Georgia, Central Home Health Care, An Amedisys Company is a senior home health care provider that offers in-home health care as well as personal home care services. Since 1975, they have ...
Medside Home Health Agency is a senior home health care service provider based in Sandy Springs, GA at 1120 Hope Rd. They provide home health care in addition to in-home personal care services to seniors. They have been providing ...
Gentiva Health Services is a senior home healthcare provider located in Cumming, GA at 2080 Ronald Reagan Blvd, Suite 500. They provide home health care and personal care services for senior clients. Since 2003, they have been helping seniors ...
Located at 5500 Interstate N Parkway, Suite 400 in Atlanta, GA, Georgia Home Health is a home healthcare service provider that offers personal care services along with home health services. For nearly 27 years, they have been helping customers throughout ...
Located in Watkinsville, GA at 1021 Jamestown Blvd Suite 215, St Mary's Home Health Services is a home health care service provider that offers in-home nursing care as well as personal care services. Since 1970, they have been serving seniors ...
Located at 1489 Blue Ridge Hwy Ste 3 in Blairsville, Georgia, Comfort Keepers is a senior home care company that offers in-home personal care services and also in-home health services. They provide a variety of medical services like licensed nurses ...
Pruitthealth Home Health-Rome is a senior home care company based in Rome, GA at 39 Three Rivers Dr. They offer in-home care as well as home healthcare to senior clients. For almost 12 years, they have been providing care ...
The Cost of Home Care in Georgia
According to Genworth Financial’s 2019 Cost of Care Survey, Georgia is among the nation’s most affordable states for home care. Here, the median in-home care costs $3,813 per month, compared to the national average of $4,290. This type of care includes nonmedical personal services, such as companionship and assistance with daily living activities. Home health care includes clinical services and is relatively affordable at $3,909 per month, versus the national average of $4,385.
The Cost of Home Care in Georgia Compared to Nearby States
Compared to the United States as a whole and to its neighboring states, Georgia is an affordable state for home-based care, with in-home care costing $3,813 per month and home health care costing $3,909. In Florida, seniors pay $191 more for in-home health care and $286 more for skilled home health care, on average, compared with Georgia. In Alabama, in-home care and skilled home health care costs are lower at $3,394 per month and $3,432 per month respectively. In South Carolina and Tennessee, in-home care costs $3,813, but skilled home health care in South Carolina is $4,000 per month, while the same type of care in Tennessee is $3,892.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
Georgia | $3,813 | $3,909 |
The United States | $4,290 | $4,385 |
Alabama | $3,394 | $3,432 |
Florida | $4,004 | $4,195 |
South Carolina | $3,813 | $4,000 |
Tennessee | $3,813 | $3,892 |
The Cost of Other Senior Care Options in Georgia
Seniors in Georgia have other care options in addition to home care, including adult day care, assisted living and nursing home care. The most economical option is adult day care, with a median monthly cost of $1,435. With this type of care, seniors reside in their own home but receive daily services at a community-based center instead of at home. Assisted living, which provides room and board, meals and personal care, costs $478 less per month than in-home care at $3,813. The costliest option is nursing home care, with semi-private accommodations costing $6,684 monthly.
- In-Home Care: $3,813
- Home Health Care: $3,909
- Adult Day Care: $1,435
- Assisted Living Facility: $3,335
- Nursing Home Care: $6,684
The Cost of Home Care in Georgia's Top Cities
Across Georgia, home care costs vary moderately, ranging between $3,432 and $4,195 per month, depending on location and scope of care. Savannah is the most expensive city in the state for home care. However, the cost of in-home care in Savannah is about $100 lower than the national average, while the cost of home health care is the same as the national average. In Columbus, Augusta and Macon, home care costs are comparable to Georgia's average. The most affordable city in the state for home care is Macon.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
Georgia | $3,813 | $3,909 |
Atlanta Area | $4,004 | $4,099 |
Augusta Area | $3,623 | $3,813 |
Columbus | $3,766 | $3,766 |
Savannah | $4,195 | $4,385 |
Macon Area | $3,432 | $3,575 |
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Georgia
Community Care Services Program Waiver (CCSP)
Georgia’s Independent Care Services Program Waiver provides personal, in-home support services for adult Medicaid beneficiaries with severe physical disabilities who receive care in their own homes or in the community instead of in an institution. The program operates under a Home and Community-Based Waiver granted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Services, which are provided based on individual needs, may include companion services, case management, personal care services, skilled nursing care, occupational therapy, emergency response, respite care for family caregivers, specialized medical equipment and supplies, and home modification.
Contact Information
To begin the application process, contact the Georgia Medical Care Foundation at 678-527-3619 or 800-982-0411, ext. 3619.
Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment Waiver (SOURCE)
Georgia’s Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE) Program is an enhanced case management program for elderly and disabled Medicaid beneficiaries. SOURCE works to improve the health outcomes of people with chronic health conditions by integrating primary medical care with home care services through case managers. This program provides in-home care services including care coordination, personal care, meal preparation, housekeeping, wound care, skilled nursing care, respite care for family caregivers and medical management. To be eligible, applicants must be 65 years of age or older with a chronic medical condition or under 65 years of age and disabled. Applicants must also meet nursing home level of care requirements.
Contact Information
For more information, seniors should contact the Georgia Medical Care Foundation at (770) 458-8500 or send an email to [email protected].
More Ways to Pay for Home Care
Since the programs mentioned above might not cover all the costs associated with home care, and not everyone may be eligible, alternative payment methods often need to be explored. Some of these alternatives include out-of-pocket arrangements with siblings, annuities, reverse mortgages, private insurance, and more. Read SeniorAdvice's Guide to Paying for Home Care to find out more about your payment and financing options.
Georgia Home Care Rules and Regulations
The Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD) of the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) is responsible for regulating home care providers in the state. The DCH licenses, monitors and inspects a variety of facilities and services, including hospitals, assisted living facilities, personal care homes and nursing homes. The table below gives an overview of the rules and regulations governing home care provider services in the State of Georgia.
Scope of Care | Home care providers may provide three categories of home care services including nursing services, personal care tasks, and companion or sitter tasks. If a provider provides nursing services, such services must be provided by a licensed registered professional nurse or a licensed practical nurse under the direction of a supervisor, in accordance with the scope of nursing practice laws and the client’s service plan. |
Care Plan Requirements | Home care providers must establish and implement written policies and procedures for service planning in collaboration with the client, as well as with the client’s personal physician if the services include nursing services and the client has a personal physician. The service plan must incorporate the functional limitations of the client, types of service required, the expected times and frequency of service delivery in the client’s residence, the expected duration of the services, the goals and objectives of the services, and discharge plans. Service plans should also include relevant diagnoses, medications and treatments, equipment needs, and diet and nutritional needs when applicable to the condition of the client. |
Medication Management Requirements | Home care providers may assist patients with self-administered medications. |
Staff Screening Requirements | Home care providers must comply with state background screening requirements. The background screening process includes searches of Georgia’s nursing aide registry, the state’s sexual offender registry and the federal List of Excluded Individuals and Entities. Providers who have direct contact with patients must be screened for tuberculosis. |
Staff Training Requirements | For clients determined to be medically frail or medically compromised, home care providers must be licensed registered professional or practical nurses. Providers who do not have a nursing license must complete the Department of Health nurse aide certification or a training program approved by the state. |
Medicaid Coverage | Georgia’s Independent Care Services and Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment waiver programs cover some or all of the cost of in-home care for those who qualify. |
Reporting Abuse | To report abuse, neglect or exploitation of an older adult or adult with a disability, contact the Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation at (800) 878-6442 or http://dch.georgia.gov. |
Free Home Care Resources in Georgia
Seniors in Georgia have access to many programs and services that help older adults maintain their independence and safely age in place. Below, we've compiled a few of the most helpful resources:
GeorgiaCares State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
GeorgiaCares provides free, unbiased information to assist beneficiaries and their caregivers on Medicare, Medicaid and other related health insurance options. GeorgiaCares SHIP-certified Medicare counselors provide one-on-one informational sessions and schedule education and outreach presentations in the community. Seniors can contact GeorgiaCares SHIP to request personalized counseling, guest speakers and partnership opportunities and to learn about rewarding volunteer opportunities.
Contact Information
Seniors should contact GeorgiaCares by calling (866) 552-4464 Option 4 or visiting www.mygeorgiacares.org to learn more.
Area Agencies on Aging
The Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Aging Services (DAS) oversees programs that organize or provide direct services to older adults through Area Agencies on Aging. The state has 13 Planning and Service Areas, each with its own AAA. Services vary by region but typically include congregate or delivered meals, transportation to medical appointments, case management, health insurance counseling, information and assistance, and legal services. AAAs often operate senior centers that provide social and educational activities for members.
Contact Information
Seniors can receive more information on AAA by calling the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services at (404) 657-5258 or by calling the phone number for their local AAA.
Low-Income Weatherization Program
Georgia’s Low-Income Weatherization Program provides energy-efficiency upgrades at no cost to those who qualify, letting households lower their utility bills to free up limited disposable income for other necessary expenses. This program covers expenses such as installing energy-efficient air conditioning and improving insulation. To qualify, seniors must meet income guidelines.
Contact Information
For more information about Georgia’s Weatherization Program or to apply for services, seniors should locate their local Weatherization Agency.
Georgia Home Modification and Repair Resources
The Georgia Home Modification and Repair Resources page outlines featured programs, funding sources, home repair and modification providers by city and educational materials for seniors. Site visitors can research information on different types of home modifications through videos and fact sheets, learn about local funding sources that are used to pay for modifications and repairs, and find local service providers. The site is searchable by location and keywords, and full contact information is listed for service providers.
Contact Information
To get answers to specific questions about home modification programs, seniors can locate their local home modification provider on this online directory.
Georgia Meals On Wheels
Meals On Wheels is a nonprofit organization of senior nutrition providers for homebound adults, including seniors and younger adults with disabilities who meet program eligibility guidelines. Meals on Wheels provides nutritious meals to low-income and homebound seniors who are unable to afford or access adequate nutrition. The program offers home deliveries, congregate meals, a food pantry program and a pet food program.
Contact Information
To find a local Meals on Wheels provider, seniors should search by zip code on this online directory.
Other Cities in Georgia