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Montana is a large state in the western part of the U.S. that's known for its beautiful national parks and fantastic fishing opportunities. The state covers a large area but has a relatively small population. Of its 1,068,788 residents, 19.83% are seniors. CNN Money rates Montana as the 7th best state for retirement due to its low cost of living and wealth of natural wonders.
The SeniorScore for Montana is 66, which is slightly lower than the national average of 72. The state scores favorably for General Quality of Life thanks to its low population density and above-average air quality. Lower-than-average sales taxes boost Montana's score in the Finances category. The state is rated at just 49 for Health & Safety because of the low number of hospitals and Medicare-registered health care providers it has; however, life expectancies in Montana are close to the national average.
This guide looks at the cost of home care and home health care in Montana as well as the financial assistance programs open to residents and other services that are available to help seniors live independently in their own homes.
Located at 275 Corporate Dr Ste 600 in Kalispell, Montana, Home Options: Home Health, Hospice and Private Care is a senior home health care provider offering home care and also home healthcare. Since 1987, they have been serving customers throughout ...
Located in Bozeman, Montana at 205 Haggerty Ln Ste 120, First Choice Home Health is an in-home care service provider that offers in-home health care and personal home care. They have been operating in Bozeman for nearly 9 years. They ...
Located in Bozeman, MT at 502 S 19th Ave Ste 113, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior home health care service provider offering in-home nursing and also personal care services. They provide multiple personal services such as help with ...
Located in Dillon, Montana at 600 Mt Hwy 91 S, Barrett Memorial Hospital Home Care is a home care service provider offering in-home medical services and also home care. Since 1985, they have been helping clients in the Dillon area. ...
407 N A St
Columbus, MT 59019
Located in Columbus, Montana at 407 N A St, Stillwater Community Hospital HHA is a senior home care service provider offering in-home medical services in addition to in-home personal care. Since 1986, they have been helping customers in the Columbus ...
201 S California
Helena, MT 59601
St. Peter's Hospital Home Health is a home care service provider located in Helena, MT at 201 S California. They offer in-home personal care along with in-home health care for senior clients. Since 1994, they have been providing care ...
2110 Overland Ave Ste 114
Billings, MT 59102
Located in Billings, MT at 2110 Overland Ave Ste 114, Rocky Mountain Home Care - Billings is an in-home care service provider that offers in-home medical care and also home care. For nearly 25 years, they have been providing care ...
95 Indian Trail Rd
Kalispell, MT 59901
Located in Kalispell, MT at 95 Indian Trail Rd, Comfort Keepers Kalispell is a senior home health care company that offers in-home personal care and also in-home health care. They offer various personal services like meal preparation assistance, spiritual care, ...
202 Prospect Dr
Glendive, MT 59330
Located at 202 Prospect Dr in Glendive, Montana, Glendive Medical Center Home Care is a home health care company offering home health care along with personal home care services. They have been providing care in Montana since 1989. They can ...
523 S 13th St
Livingston, MT 59047
Livingston HealthCare Home Care is a senior in-home care provider located in Livingston, MT at 523 S 13th St. They offer in-home health care as well as in-home care to seniors. Since 1989, they have been providing care to ...
3745 Harrison Ave Ste G
Butte, MT 59701
Located in Butte, Montana at 3745 Harrison Ave Ste G, Rocky Mountain Home Care of Butte is an in-home care service provider that offers in-home care along with in-home health care. Since 1988, they have been serving seniors in the ...
311 S 8th Ave E
Malta, MT 59538
Phillips County Hospital Home Health is a senior home care provider located in Malta, MT at 311 S 8th Ave E. They provide in-home personal care and in-home medical care to senior clientele. Since 1987, they have been serving ...
736 S Main St
Kalispell, MT 59901
Flathead County Home Health Agency is a home health care provider located in Kalispell, MT at 736 S Main St. They provide home care services as well as in-home medical care for seniors. They have been in business in ...
408 Wendell Ave
Lewistown, MT 59457
Located at 408 Wendell Ave in Lewistown, MT, Central Montana Medical Center Home Health Care is a home health care provider offering personal care and also home healthcare. They have been serving customers in Montana since 1985. They offer multiple ...
1200 Westwood Dr
Hamilton, MT 59840
Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital Home Health Services is a senior home care provider based in Hamilton, Montana at 1200 Westwood Dr. They provide in-home medical services and also home care for senior clients. For almost 33 years, they have ...
10 Kruger Rd
Plains, MT 59859
Located at 10 Kruger Rd in Plains, Montana, Clark Fork Valley Home Health is a senior home healthcare service provider offering personal care as well as in-home medical services. For nearly 33 years, they have been serving seniors throughout the ...
2687 Palmer St Ste B
Missoula, MT 59808
Partners In Home Care is a home health care company based in Missoula, MT at 2687 Palmer St Ste B. They provide home care and home health services for senior clientele. Since 1985, they have been serving customers in ...
805 Sunset Blvd
Conrad, MT 59425
Located at 805 Sunset Blvd in Conrad, Montana, Pondera Home Health Agency is a senior home healthcare company offering in-home care along with home health services. For almost 36 years, they have been serving customers in the Conrad area. They ...
711 Main St SW
Ronan, MT 59864
Located in Ronan, Montana at 711 Main St SW, Lake County Home Options is a home healthcare company offering home health care and in-home personal care services. They have been serving customers in Ronan for 41 years. They provide nursing ...
800 Front St
Helena, MT 59601
Located at 800 Front St in Helena, Montana, Frontier Home Health and Hospice - Helena is a home healthcare service provider offering in-home nursing as well as personal care services. They have been providing care in the area since 1973. ...
According to the Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey 2019, the cost of home care in Montana is $4,576 per month. Home care services include assistance with the activities of daily living, day-to-day chores and administrative tasks. Home health care services, which include basic medical tasks in addition to those supportive services, have a similar monthly fee. The national average costs are $4,290 for home care and $4,385 for home health care.
Home care and home health care fees in Montana are slightly above the national average and are also higher than the prices charged by such providers in neighboring Idaho. Fees compare favorably with those in other states however. Home care services cost $763 per month more in Wyoming and South Dakota and $572 per month more in North Dakota with home health care services also being more expensive in those states.
Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care | |
Montana | $4,576 | $4,576 |
United States | $4,290 | $4,385 |
Idaho | $4,195 | $4,290 |
Wyoming | $5,339 | $5,384 |
South Dakota | $5,339 | $5,339 |
North Dakota | $5,148 | $5,331 |
In addition to home care services, seniors living in Montana can choose from a variety of other care services, including adult day care, assisted living facilities and nursing home care. Adult day care services are the most affordable costing $2,167 monthly. These services are provided in a group setting during daytime hours. Assisted living services offer room and board and support with the activities of daily living for $3,820 per month. Nursing home care is the most expensive at $7,459 and includes skilled nursing care around the clock.
Fees for home care services vary across the state of Montana. Home care and home health care in Great Falls cost more than the state average at $4,767 per month. In Missoula, home care services are in line with the state average, but home health care costs $95 more per month. Billings is one of the most affordable cities with costs averaging $200 less per month than in other parts of the state. Heading south into Idaho Falls, Idaho, the cost of home care drops to just $4,004 per month.
Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care | |
Montana | $4,576 | $4,576 |
Great Falls | $4,767 | $4,767 |
Billings | $4,376 | $4,376 |
Missoula | $4,576 | $4,671 |
Idaho Falls, ID | $4,004 | $4,290 |
Also known as the Big Sky Waiver, this Home- and Community-Based Services waiver helps seniors who would otherwise require a nursing home level of care access the services they need to age in place. The waiver is self-directed, and family members can be hired to provide personal care. However, all service providers must be approved by the state. A scale of needs assessment and income and asset limitations are used to consider eligibility.
Contact Information
For more information about the waiver or to apply, call (800) 219-7035.
Montana's Community First Choice and Personal Assistance Programs are Medicaid waivers aimed at elderly individuals who require in-home care. Eligible individuals can receive services from the state or hire care providers of their choosing who will then be paid by the agency. Any nominated caregivers must be approved by the state. To be eligible for the program, individuals must be eligible for Medicaid, have a condition that requires them to receive in-home care and meet income and asset requirements.
Contact Information
For more information about CFC/PAS or to apply, contact the nearest Office of Public Assistance.
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.
Home health care agencies that provide services to seniors who receive Medicaid are licensed under the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Licensure Bureau. These agencies must abide by a number of rules and regulations put in place to ensure that seniors receive a high level of care and that their safety and well-being are fully protected.
Scope of Care | Home care aides provide nonmedical personal care services, such as assistance with the activities of daily living. Home health care providers can offer limited medical support, including skilled nursing or occupational therapy, as long as those services are within the scope of the aide's training and qualifications. |
Care Plan Requirements | Home health care agencies are required to work with a physician to develop a plan of care for each patient. This care plan must be reviewed at least once every 60 days. Deviations from the plan must be agreed on with the patient's physician. Home care agencies providing nonmedical services are not required to develop a care plan. |
Medication Management Requirements | Home health care aides may administer medications if they are licensed to do so and are following a care plan devised by the patient's physician. Home care aides are not permitted to administer medications but may provide reminders for medications prescribed by a physician. |
Staff Screening Requirements | The state of Montana does not currently require home health aides to pass a background check. |
Staff Training Requirements | Caregivers providing unskilled personal care services are not required to meet specific training requirements. Home health care aides must complete the training required for the services they offer, such as skilled nursing, speech therapy or occupational therapy. Home health care aides can provide unskilled homemaker services but are not permitted to provide skilled services outside the scope of their license. |
Medicaid Coverage | Medicaid recipients may be eligible for the CFC/PAS or Big Sky Waiver and can have some or all of their home care costs covered under those programs. |
Reporting Abuse | Concerns relating to elder abuse, neglect or exploitation may be reported to Adult Protective Services by calling (844) 277-9300 on weekdays during office hours. If the report is urgent or the person is in imminent danger, call 911. |
Seniors in Montana 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 Area Agencies on Aging provide education and advocacy services for local seniors as well as running a variety of social activities via senior centers. There are eight AAAs in Montana serving different geographic areas. Programs vary between agencies. Information and referral services are offered free of charge. Some other programs may require a nominal or needs-based contribution.
Contact Information
Check the AAA Map to find the nearest Area Agency on Aging.
This nonprofit agency offers a variety of in-home care services for Montana seniors. It also runs volunteer-supported programs to benefit lonely or isolated seniors both in-person and over the telephone while working to combat elder abuse. Big Sky Senior Services is primarily funded through donations. Service users can make a contribution to the cost of their care based on their need and ability to pay.
Contact Information
For more information about the programs run by Big Sky Senior Services, call (406) 259-3111.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is a national program with state chapters that connect seniors to organizations in need of volunteers. Seniors can choose how much time they donate and how often. Volunteer positions vary and give seniors a chance to exercise their existing professional skills or learn new ones. Out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed, and insurance is provided.
Contact Information
For more information about the RSVP or to find the nearest chapter, call (406) 587-4486.
The MonTECH equipment loan program that helps Montana residents with disabilities access the assistive technology they need to remain in their own homes and live independently. The program ships equipment out to eligible individuals anywhere in the state and also provides one-to-one training in the use of assistive devices wherever possible.
Contact Information
To request more information about the program, call (877) 243-5511.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, helps low-income families with the cost of heating and cooling their homes. The program covers part of the cost of electricity, gas, wood or other fuel bills and may also pay for certain home improvements or maintenance related to heating or cooling systems. There are income and asset limitations that must be met to qualify for the program, and these are based on the size of the household and the median income of similar households in the state.
Contact Information
For more information about LIHEAP, contact the nearest LIHEAP Eligibility Office.
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