Located at 515-a Bee Creek Rd in Branson, Missouri, Phoenix Home Care - Branson is a home healthcare company that offers home health care along with home care. For nearly 4 years, they have been serving customers throughout the Branson ...
Home Care in Missouri
- Home Care Directory for Missouri
- Home Care Costs in Missouri
- Financial Assistance for Home Care in Missouri
- Missouri Home Care Rules and Regulations
- Free Home Care Resources in Missouri
Blessed with mighty rivers, good barbecue, spectacular sports and an interesting mix of Midwestern and Southern features, Missouri truly welcomes all-American retirees home. As the Show Me State’s older population is expected to grow where one out of four Missourians would be over 60 by 2030, there are innovative senior programs that promote health, safety and independence. In addition, the annual Missouri State Fair’s Senior Day honors older adults with fun entertainment, games and dancing.
Missouri’s overall SeniorScore of 74 surpasses the national average of 72, showing the Ozark State as a generally favorable place for retirement. Its General Quality of Life scores 69 with a comfortable average climate. Finances is rated 67 for the considerably low overall cost of living, senior care costs and property tax rates, as well as significant tax deductions on retirement benefits. Recreation and Leisure has a SeniorScore of 64 for Missouri’s large number of municipal parks and churches. The Lake of the Ozarks State Park has an accessible beach, picnic, camping and boat launch areas. Health & Safety scores 62 for the state’s large number of home health agencies and Medicare-accredited health care providers including two nationally ranked hospitals.
This guide informs seniors and families about home care in Missouri, showing its expected costs, available financial support programs, applicable laws and free resources.
Top Home Care Agencies in Missouri
Located at 3033 South Kansas Expy in Springfield, Missouri, Phoenix Home Care - Springfield is a senior home healthcare provider that offers in-home medical services and also personal care services. They have been in business in the area since 2012. ...
Located at 3100 Broadway Suite 1000 in Kansas City, Missouri, Saint Luke's Health System Home Care and Hospice is a home health care provider offering in-home health services in addition to home care. Since 1984, they have been providing ...
Located in Independence, Missouri at 14330 K East 42nd St, Phoenix Home Care - Independence is a senior in-home care company that offers in-home medical care as well as personal care. For almost 4 years, they have been providing care ...
Located in Springfield, MO at 3660 S National, PO Box 10939, Oxford Healthcare Home Care & Hospice in Springfield is a senior home health care company offering personal care and home health care. For almost 37 years, they have been ...
Located in Lees Summit, MO at 3751 NE Ralph Powell Rd, Integrity Home Care & Hospice - Integrity Hospice is a home health care service provider that offers in-home medical services along with in-home care. They have been providing care ...
Located at 1187 Corporate Lake Drive, Suite 200 in St Louis, MO, SSM Health at Home Home Health - St. Louis is a senior home healthcare provider that offers home healthcare in addition to personal home care. They have been ...
Located in Kansas City, Missouri at 7819 Wornall Rd Ste 2, Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services is a senior in-home care provider that offers home health services as well as personal care services. They can provide various personal services including ...
Located at 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Suite 200 in Kansas City, MO, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care is a senior home health care company offering home healthcare along with in-home personal care. They have been serving customers in Missouri ...
Located at 115 Piper Hill Drive Suite 200 in St Charles, MO, Nurses and Company is a senior home health care service provider that offers in-home health care in addition to personal home care services. They have been operating ...
Located in Carthage, Missouri at 3125 Dr Russell Smith Way Suite 1153, Mercy Hospital Carthage is a senior in-home care service provider offering home health services and also personal home care. Since 1984, they have been helping seniors in ...
Located in Columbia, MO at 1400 Heriford Road, Suite 104, Oxford Healthcare Home Care & Hospice in Columbia is a senior home healthcare provider that offers home healthcare along with personal home care. For almost 18 years, they have been ...
Located at 42 S Main St in Liberty, Missouri, Home Instead Senior Care is a home healthcare service provider that offers in-home medical care and personal care. They provide different medical services like licensed nursing, care for wounds, diabetes care, ...
Located in Springfield, Missouri at 2960 N Eastgate Ave, Integrity Home Care & Hospice is a home care service provider offering personal care services along with in-home health services. For almost 16 years, they have been helping clients in the ...
Aw Health Care is a home healthcare service provider based in St Louis, Missouri at 7212-7216 Balson Ave. They provide personal care and also in-home medical services for seniors. Since 2004, they have been helping clients in the St ...
Located in St Louis, Missouri at 1935 Beltway Dr, Bjc Home Care Services is a senior home care company offering home care services as well as home health services. They have been in business in Missouri for 30 years. They ...
Sutton Home Care is the premier provider of home care and companion care services in Springfield,Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Branson and surrounding areas. Our personal home care services are tailoredspecifically to the needs of your loved ones, at one flat hourly ...
Located at 1451 High Street, Suite 205 in Washington, Missouri, Alternative Home Health Care is an in-home care service provider that offers in-home health care along with in-home personal care. They have been in business in Missouri for 15 years. ...
Located at 1001 NW Chipman Rd in Lees Summit, Missouri, John Knox Village - Lee's Summit is an in-home care service provider offering in-home health services and also personal care. Since 1974, they have been providing care to seniors in ...
Located at One New Ballas Pl in Creve Coeur, MO, Brookdale Home Health St Louis is a home health care provider offering in-home health care and personal care services. For nearly 12 years, they have been providing care to customers ...
The Cost of Home Care in Missouri
Based on the Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2019, in-home care and home health care in Missouri have similar average costs of $4,195 per month. This is about $100 to 200 less expensive than the U.S. averages of $4,290 and $4,385, respectively. In-home care refers to nonmedical services such as assistance with activities of daily living, while home health care primarily includes skilled nursing services.
The Cost of Home Care in Missouri Compared to Nearby States
With an average home care cost of $4,195 per month, Missouri is among the most affordable states for home care in the Midwest. The Show Me State is comparable to neighboring Kansas when it comes to home health care but nearly $200 more costly with in-home care. Iowa’s home care costs of $4,767 result in seniors paying almost $600 more per month compared to Missouri. Illinois is $300 to $400 more costly. For seniors with monthly budgets below $4,000, Bordering Southern states offer more affordable options. Arkansas has similar home care costs of $3,623, saving seniors nearly $600 per month.
Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care | |
Missouri | $4,195 | $4,195 |
The United States | $4,290 | $4,385 |
Kansas | $4,004 | $4,195 |
Iowa | $4,767 | $4,767 |
Illinois | $4,481 | $4,576 |
Arkansas | $3,623 | $3,623 |
The Cost of Other Senior Care Options in Missouri
Home care may have the highest cost for community-based senior care in Missouri, but it’s about $900 more affordable than nursing home care, which costs $5,061 monthly for semi-private accommodations. Seniors need to weigh between home health care and nursing home care based on the extent of skilled nursing services needed, as well as the expenses associated with staying at home. Adult day care is the most affordable option at $1,777 per month, letting seniors participate in social, recreational and educational programs while receiving personal care outside the home. Assisted living saves seniors approximately $1,300 compared to home care, offering a cost-effective option that covers room and board and 24-hour supervision.
- In-Home Care: $4,195
- Home Health Care: $4,195
- Adult Day Care: $1,777
- Assisted Living Facility: $2,881
- Nursing Home Care: $5,061
The Cost of Home Care in Missouri's Top Cities
Most areas in Missouri range from $4,000 to $4,600 when it comes to home care, except for Jefferson City. The state capital is the most affordable area with respective in-home and home health care costs of $3,314 and $3,512 per month, around $700 to $800 lower than the state average. Springfield is also considered affordable with similar home care costs of $4,004. Kansas City, Missouri’s largest city, is the most expensive area for home health care at $4,576 per month, almost $200 more than St. Louis. Columbia’s home care costs are comparable to the state median, as well as the in-home care costs for St. Louis and Kansas City.
Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care | |
Missouri | $4,195 | $4,195 |
Kansas City | $4,195 | $4,576 |
St. Louis | $4,195 | $4,385 |
Springfield | $4,004 | $4,004 |
Columbia | $4,195 | $4,195 |
Jefferson City | $3,314 | $3,512 |
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Missouri
Aged and Disabled Waiver
ADW is an MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) program that provides home and community-based services to seniors who wish to age in place. These services may include adult day care, homemaker services, home-delivered meals and respite care. Functionally eligible ADW recipients must be seniors 65 and older and physically disabled individuals aged 63 and 64. They must require a nursing facility level of care and be financially qualified based on income and asset limit requirements of MO HealthNet for Seniors. Applicants earning above the income cap may still qualify through a spend-down system.
Contact Information
Seniors may apply for ADW online or contact a local Family Support Division office for application assistance.
State Plan Personal Care Services
The PC services under Missouri’s Medicaid State Plan are provided through either the Agency model or the Consumer-Directed model (for physically disabled individuals). These services may include assistance with ADLs and instrumental ADLs, as well as authorized RN and/or LPN services in their private homes or group residential settings. State Plan PC recipients must require nursing facility level of care and be financially qualified for MO HealthNet based on income and resource limits or on a spend-down basis. No age limit applies.
Contact Information
Potential State Plan PC participants may initially apply for MO HealthNet online or contact a local Family Support Division office for assistance.
Independent Living Waiver
ILW helps homebound disabled adults maintain their dignity and independence, providing services such as personal care, case management, financial management, environmental modifications and specialized medical equipment and supplies. New applicants for ILW must be physically disabled adults at most 64 years old, meet nursing facility level of care, live in private residences and be financially eligible under MO HealthNet for People with Disabilities. Current ILW recipients turning 65 may opt to continue their enrollment if they’re able and willing to self-direct their personal care services.
Contact Information
Eligible older adults may submit an online application for ILW or contact a local Family Support Division office.
Adult Day Care Waiver
ADCW covers the costs of community-based services for Medicaid-eligible older adults in licensed adult day care centers. Services may include assistance with daily living activities, meals, planned group activities, transportation and necessary skilled nursing services. Participants must be disabled adults at most 63 years old, meet nursing facility level of care and be financially eligible for MO HealthNet for People with Disabilities. Current ADCW recipients turning 64 may choose to continue their participation or terminate their enrollment to apply for another appropriate program.
Contact Information
Interested ADCW applicants may sign up online or contact a local Family Support Division office for inquiries.
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 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.
Missouri Home Care Rules and Regulations
Home care providers may provide one or more of the three types of home care programs in Missouri: Medicare-funded home health care, Medicaid-funded in-home care and private-pay, private-duty home care. All home health care providers must meet the state’s licensure requirements which incorporate the federally issued Medicare conditions of participation for home health agencies. For in-home care, only providers contracting with the Department of Health and Senior Services under publicly funded programs require compliance with the department’s in-home service standards. While private-pay home care agencies do not require licensing and government oversight, the state can receive complaints on these providers.
Scope of Care | A home health agency provides two or more home health services according to a physician’s written and signed plan of treatment. These home health services may be delivered on a part-time or intermittent basis, and they may include physical, occupational and speech therapy, nursing care, medical social services and home health aide tasks. DHSS-contracted in-home service providers may offer personal care, homemaker services, chore services and respite care. Authorized skilled nursing services may be provided only to clients with stable chronic conditions. |
Care Plan Requirements | The plan of care developed for an HHA client shall include the following:
The state-approved care plans for publicly funded in-home service recipients shall include:
|
Medication Management Requirements | Medications and treatments may be administered by HHA staff only upon a physician’s order. Verbal orders shall be written, signed and dated with the date of receipt by the registered nurse or qualified therapist. |
Staff Screening Requirements | HHAs and in-home services providers shall request criminal background checks on all potential employees and contractors who would have contact with clients and patients. These employers must also make inquiries to DHSS to check if their applicants are in the Employee Disqualification List. |
Staff Training Requirements | HHAs shall conduct classroom training and supervised practical training for home health aides under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Home health aides must also receive additional in-service training annually. Dementia-specific training is required for all HHA employees and contractors who provide direct care and/or may have daily contact with clients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. The training shall be conducted annually and updated as needed. In-home service workers shall receive orientation training and annual in-service training which includes updates on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Additional training by an RN is required for in-home workers providing advanced respite care. |
Medicaid Coverage | MO HealthNet pays for home care services provided to Medicaid-eligible recipients through waiver and state plan programs. These services must be provided by home care agencies contracted by the DHSS. |
Reporting Abuse | Instances of abuse and neglect toward home care clients shall be immediately reported to the DHSS. Cases of misappropriation of the client’s property or funds, as well as falsification of documents on service delivery, shall also be reported to the department. Mandated reporters such as home care employees are encouraged to do online reporting. |
Free Home Care Resources in Missouri
Seniors in Missouri 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:
DHSS Division of Senior and Disability Services
The Division of Senior and Disability Services of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services functions as the State Unit on Aging. It administers various federal, state and community-based senior programs that support the safety and independence of older adults. DSDS is also responsible for the eligibility determination and care planning for HCBS program participants. Other programs overseen by the division include the Senior Legal Helpline, Adult Protective Services, the Missouri Century Club, the Senior Community Service and Employment Program.
Contact Information
Older Missourians may call DSDS at (573) 526-8557.
Area Agencies on Aging
Missouri has 10 AAAs that provide a wide range of local senior services as required by the Older Americans Act. Services for eligible homebound seniors vary by location and may include personal care, home-delivered meals, adult day care, transportation and minor home repairs. Low-income seniors 60 and older may also benefit from case management services, health counseling, legal assistance, senior center activities and various outreach programs.
Contact Information
Seniors and their families may contact their local AAAs for more information about the services they provide.
Missouri Community Options and Resources
Developed in partnership with the DSS, DHSS and the Department of Mental Health, MOCOR provides information on and community resources on long-term services and supports throughout Missouri. The MOCOR screening tool assists seniors with quick evaluations on their needs and refers them to appropriate programs that best match those needs. Once this tool is completed, a specialist will review the submission, contact the applicant to provide information on available forms of assistance and to perform initial assessments.
Contact Information
Those who prefer phone assistance on LTSS options in Missouri may call (855) 834-8555 toll-free.
Money Follows the Person
The MFP demonstration grant supports Medicaid-eligible seniors and disabled individuals in transitioning from skilled nursing facilities to their homes and other community-based residential settings. Covered in-home services may include case management, home health care, home-delivered meals, respite care and medical equipment/supplies. Adult day care, transportation, psychiatric and one-time transition services may also be provided. MFP applicants must currently reside in skilled nursing facilities for not less than 90 days. They must also be financially eligible for MO HealthNet for at least one day while residing in SNFs and after moving to their homes, and MO HealthNet benefits must be in effect on the day of SNF discharge.
Contact Information
Existing MO HealthNet recipients may contact their MFP regional offices for referrals. Otherwise, the initial application for MO HealthNet must be done online or through a local Family Support Division office.
Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri
As the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) of Missouri, CLAIM offers free, unbiased and confidential counseling services for Medicare beneficiaries. Its certified Medicare counselors are trained volunteers that can help seniors make informed decisions on their health insurance needs.
Contact Information
Missourians may call (573) 817-8320 or toll-free (800) 390-3330 for questions about Medicare or schedule appointments for phone counseling.
Missouri Veterans Commission
The Missouri Veterans Commission provides assistance to eligible veterans, their dependents and legal representatives in securing federal and state benefits. Its accredited Veterans Service Officers can help applicants maximize their earned benefits, expedite the filing of VA claims, determine their eligibility for health care services and other long-term care programs. The commission’s Veterans Resource Coordinator offers referral services to veterans and their families who have unmet extraordinary needs.
Contact Information
Missourian veterans and their dependents may contact their county Service Officers for claims filing assistance.
Missouri Weatherization and Energy Assistance Programs
The Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program of the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Energy, benefits eligible homebound elderly residents with energy-efficient home improvements that help lower utility bills and improve their comfort, health and safety. Seniors may also avail of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program of the DSS. LIHEAP offers one-time energy assistance during the winter season and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program which helps address or prevent energy shutoff.
Contact Information
LIWAP applicants may contact their local weatherization agencies for assistance. LIHEAP applications may be submitted to local contracted agencies.
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