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Situated along the Gulf Coast, Mississippi has a population of close to 3 million residents, with more than 16% being seniors over the age of 65. A bit below the national average of 72, Mississippi's senior score of 68 is supported by its appealing financial details but weighed down by its lower marks in recreation, health and leisure. With its relatively low property taxes, cost of care and overall cost of living, the state enables seniors to get more value for their dollar, facilitating a high quality of life.
Considering that Mississippi's average annual temperature is around 64 degrees, inclement weather rarely prevents seniors from exploring the state's many outdoor attractions, such as swamp tours and day trips to Ship Island and numerous parks and nature preserves. From admiring the perfectly restored cars of their youth at the Tupelo Auto Museum to seeing the hundreds of monuments at Vicksburg National Military Park, seniors have plentiful options for cultural enrichment.
In this guide, seniors can find helpful comparisons detailing home care costs within Mississippi and nearby states and multiple resources for free care services and financial assistance programs.
Located at 10598 D'iberville Blvd Suite B in Diberville, MS, Saads Healthcare of D'Iberville is a senior in-home care company offering home care services along with in-home nursing care. They have been serving clients in Mississippi since 1979. They can ...
Kare In Home Health Services is a senior home care provider based in Gulfport, MS at 10281 Corporate Dr. They provide personal home care services as well as in-home nursing services to senior clients. For nearly 43 years, they ...
Located at 1716 Government St Ste C in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior home care provider that offers in-home health care and personal care. They can provide various personal services such as assistance with reading, ...
Located in Hattiesburg, MS at 1414 South 28th Ave, Forrest General Home Care and Hospice is a home health care service provider that offers personal home care along with in-home nursing care. For almost 39 years, they have been helping ...
Amedisys Home Health of Collins is a senior home care company located in Collins, MS at 18 Melody Ln. They provide in-home medical services and home care to senior clientele. They have been serving customers in the area since ...
Located at 11010 Highway 49, Sute 4 in Gulfport, MS, Tender Loving Care is a senior home health care service provider that offers in-home nursing services in addition to in-home personal care services. Since 2002, they have been helping customers ...
Located in Greenville, Mississippi at 300 South Washington Ave, Delta Regional Medical Center is an in-home care service provider offering personal home care services along with in-home health care. Since 1975, they have been providing care to clients throughout the ...
2080 South Frontage Road, Suite 103
Vicksburg, MS 39180
Located at 2080 South Frontage Road, Suite 103 in Vicksburg, MS, Camellia Home Health is a senior home care service provider that offers in-home personal care services as well as home health services. Since 1976, they have been serving customers ...
105 Thalweg Dr, Suite B
Vicksburg, MS 39183
Located in Vicksburg, MS at 105 Thalweg Dr, Suite B, Mississippi Homecare - Vicksburg is an in-home care service provider offering in-home health services as well as home care services. For nearly 41 years, they have been helping clients ...
210 Gilchrist Street / P O Box 699
Fayette, MS 39069
Located in Fayette, Mississippi at 210 Gilchrist Street / P O Box 699, Medgar Evers HHA in Fayette is an in-home care provider offering home health care and also in-home care. For nearly 41 years, they have been helping customers ...
833 E River Pl (mail 406 Briarwood Dr, Ste 500)
Jackson, MS 39206
Located in Jackson, Mississippi at 833 E River Pl (mail 406 Briarwood Dr, Ste 500), Sta-Home Health Agency Of Jackson, Inc is a home health care service provider offering in-home nursing care in addition to home care services. They have ...
401 Bailey Dr
Hollandale, MS 38748
Continue Care Home Health & Hospice in Hollandale is a senior home care company based in Hollandale, Mississippi at 401 Bailey Dr. They provide home health care as well as home care to senior clients. For almost 42 years, ...
925 Tommy Munro Drive, Suite K
Biloxi, MS 39532
Located in Biloxi, MS at 925 Tommy Munro Drive, Suite K, Amedisys Home Health of Biloxi is a home healthcare company offering personal care services in addition to in-home medical care. They have been serving customers in Biloxi for 37 ...
2260 Highway 15 North
Laurel, MS 39440
Located at 2260 Highway 15 North in Laurel, Mississippi, Comfortcare Home Health is a home healthcare company offering home health services along with home care. They have been serving clients in Mississippi for nearly 42 years. They provide medical social ...
812 Garfield
Tupelo, MS 38801
North Mississippi Medical Center HHA is a senior home care company based in Tupelo, MS at 812 Garfield. They offer in-home personal care and also in-home nursing care to senior clients. They have been serving clients in the area ...
133 Mayfair Rd
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Located at 133 Mayfair Rd in Hattiesburg, MS, Camellia Home Health and Hospice is a senior home healthcare company that offers in-home nursing and personal care. They have been in operation in the area for nearly 43 years. They provide ...
P O Box 630
Columbia, MS 39429
Forrest General Home Care of Marion General is a home health care provider based in Columbia, Mississippi at P O Box 630. They provide in-home personal care and also in-home health services for seniors. For almost 44 years, they ...
P O Box 1249
Waynesboro, MS 39367
Wayne General Hospital HHA is a home care company located in Waynesboro, MS at P O Box 1249. They offer home care services and home health services to senior clients. Since 1973, they have been helping customers in the ...
108 Lundy Lane, P O Box 16929
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Deaconess Homecare is a senior home care service provider based in Hattiesburg, MS at 108 Lundy Lane, P O Box 16929. They provide home healthcare and also home care services to seniors. Since 1971, they have been helping seniors ...
102 Brickerton St
Columbus, MS 39701
Located in Columbus, Mississippi at 102 Brickerton St, Comfort Keepers is an in-home care provider that offers in-home medical care and also home care. They provide a variety of medical services like diabetes management, blood pressure management, urinary catheter care, ...
On average, seniors in Mississippi pay $3,432 a month for home care and $3,527 a month for home health care. Home care typically includes assistance with daily living tasks and chores, while home health care agencies may provide a range of medical services such as skilled nursing, rehabilitation and medication administration. Usually, the cost of home health care is either equal to or slightly higher than home care.
With the average American senior paying around $4,290 a month for home care and $4,385 for home health care, the $3,342 and $3,527 most seniors in Mississippi pay for the respective types of care is relatively affordable. From Mississippi's four neighboring states, Louisiana is narrowly the most economical, with home care costs only 6.2% less than Mississippi's. At $3,813 for home care and $3,892 for home health care, Tennessee is Mississippi's most expensive neighbor.
Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care | |
Mississippi | $3,432 | $3,527 |
The United States | $4,290 | $4,385 |
Louisiana | $3,218 | $3,241 |
Arkansas | $3,623 | $3,623 |
Tennessee | $3,813 | $3,892 |
Alabama | $3,394 | $3,432 |
At $6,844 a month, nursing home care is the most expensive type of care in Mississippi. Mississippi's average cost of assisted living is less than $100 more than the $3,432 most seniors in the state are paying for in-home care and just $3 over the state's cost of home health care. For adult day care services, seniors are paying $1,398 a month, on average.
In the city of Jackson, the median costs of home care and home health care are both $3,194 a month, making it the most affordable city in the state. Home care costs in Hattiesburg and Gulfport are both in line with the state's average of $3,432; however, Hattiesburg's $3,813 average cost of home health care and the $3,623 a month seniors in Gulfport are paying are both more than the state's $3,527 average home health care spending.
Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care | |
Mississippi | $3,432 | $3,527 |
Jackson | $3,194 | $3,194 |
Hattiesburg | $3,432 | $3,813 |
Gulfport | $3,432 | $3,623 |
Operated and administered by Medicaid, the Elderly and Disabled Waiver enables low-income seniors to receive a variety of helpful services, including home-delivered meals, adult day health care, personal care services and in-home respite care. The waiver also helps seniors connect with qualified speech and physical therapists. To qualify, seniors should be eligible for Medicaid or have an income below 300% of the SSI benefit rate and meet the program's medical criteria.
Contact Information
Seniors can call the Mississippi Department of Medicaid at (601) 359-6050 to learn more about eligibility and the application process.
Another Medicaid program, the Independent Living Waiver is a home and community-based services waiver designed to help seniors remain in their homes by providing services typically found in a nursing facility. Case management, home and accessibility modifications, personal care and specialized medical equipment are some of the services provided by the waiver program. Eligible seniors should qualify for one of Medicaid's several categories, such as Social Security Income or the Low-Income Families and Children Program.
Contact Information
For more information about how to apply and the eligibility criteria, seniors can call (601) 359-6050 or visit the Mississippi Department of Medicaid.
Since the programs mentioned above might not cover all the costs associated with home care, and not everyone may be eligible, alternative payment methods will 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.
The Division of Aging and Adult Services within the Mississippi Department of Human Services oversees the state's home care agencies. The Division ensures that agencies maintain compliance with the state's regulations regarding patient record-keeping, staff education and background requirements, and agency licensing and requirements for providing varying levels of personal care and health care services.
Scope of Care | Home care and home health care providers in Mississippi may offer some or all of the following:
Homemakers in Mississippi have been redefined as personal care attendants who perform tasks such as assisting with eating and personal hygiene, operating kitchen appliances, purchasing groceries, cleaning living areas and doing laundry. Agencies may also provide extended services, including physical and speech therapy, home health aide and skilled nursing. |
Care Plan Requirements | In addition to input from the patient, Mississippi requires that care plans are developed with a physician or podiatrist, relevant agency staff members and a member of the senior's family. Care plans must be updated every 60 days and include information about the recipient's problems, goals and care approach. |
Medication Management Requirements | Medications may only be administered by a registered nurse. |
Staff Screening Requirements | New employees must undergo a background and record check. Prior convictions for elder abuse and many other felonies automatically disqualify an applicant. New staff members who will regularly be in contact with seniors must also pass a health screening conducted by a licensed physician or registered nurse. |
Staff Training Requirements | Training requirements vary between provider types. Personal care attendants must have at least a GED and complete a 40-hour personal care services course, while in-home respite care providers need at least four years of experience working with the elderly. |
Medicaid Coverage | Mississippi's Medicaid program covers up to 25 home health visits per year, but those who qualify for the Elderly and Disabled Waiver may receive nearly unlimited visits for personal care. |
Reporting Abuse | Incidents of abuse and negligence should be reported to the Division of Aging and Adult Services at (601) 359-4929 or the Vulnerable Person Abuse Hotline at (844) 437-6282 |
Seniors in Mississippi 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:
The goal of Mississippi's Area Agencies on Aging is to connect seniors with a range of programs and services to improve their quality of life. The state has 10 AAA offices, with each serving different counties, to help Mississippi's older adults obtain home-delivered meals, homemaker services, respite care and other services. Most programs cater to low-income seniors.
Contact Information
To find their local Area Agency on Aging and learn more about its programs and services, seniors can contact the office that serves their county.
The Mississippi Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income seniors reduce their home heating and cooling expenses by covering the cost of home modifications that increase energy efficiency. Individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income or are enrolled in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program are automatically eligible.
Contact Information
To find out more about income requirements, seniors can call the MDHS at (601) 359-4500. The easiest way to apply is online.
Seniors and their families can coordinate with Mississippi Access to Care Centers to find more information about options for long-term care and available support services to enable remaining at home. The agency's representatives can also help seniors complete the application process for programs of interest.
Contact Information
Regardless of their income or eligibility for any particular programs, interested parties can call (844) 822-4622 to learn more about the services available from their local MAC Center.
Mississippi's Homemaker Services Program is administered by the state's Area Agencies on Aging in coordination with the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Qualified applicants can receive assistance with housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation and activities of daily living such as eating, dressing and bathing. To be eligible, applicants must be at least 60 years old and be limited in some way either physically, mentally or functionally.
Contact Information
Any of the state's AAA offices can help seniors apply for the program.
The Family Caregiver Support Program is administered in partnership with the state's 10 AAA offices. The program provides respite care, counseling and information about additional services and how to access them. To qualify, an individual must be responsible for caring for a person aged 60 or older.
Contact Information
For more information, caregivers can reach out to their local AAA office or call the Mississippi Department of Human Services at (601) 359-4500.
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