New York state is home to around 19.5 million people, and almost 17% of residents are aged 65 and over. Seniors retiring in the state can enjoy the arts and culture of metropolitan areas like New York City, and the beauty of the lakes and parks in Upstate New York. The state’s tax system is also favorable to seniors, with Social Security exempt from state income tax and a sizable deduction available on other forms of retirement income. In addition to 28 counties, cities and towns, the entire state of New York is listed on the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, meaning that the state’s leadership is committed to working toward creating a great environment for residents of all ages.
The SeniorScore is calculated using 100 data points across four categories that determine how comfortable a community is for older adults. New York’s overall score is 69, which is slightly lower than the national average of 72. The state’s best score is for the Health & Safety category, where it received a 70. This reflects the state’s world-class hospitals, including some of the best geriatrics hospitals in the country. It scores a 64 for Recreation & Leisure and a 57 for General Quality of Life. Its lowest score is in the Finances category, largely due to the high cost of living.
This guide provides an overview of home care costs in New York and information about financial assistance options and a variety of free home care resources.
Brooklyn Hospital Center HHSd Chha is a senior in-home care company located in Brooklyn, NY at 19 Rockwell Pl. They provide home care services and also in-home health services to senior clients. They have been in operation in the ...
Located at 118-a Battery Ave in Brooklyn, NY, Girling Health Care of New York is a home care provider that offers in-home medical services along with personal home care. For nearly 30 years, they have been providing care to customers ...
Located at 110 Bi-county Boulevard, Suite 114 in Farmingdale, New York, Catholic Home Care is a home care company that offers in-home medical services in addition to personal care. For nearly 51 years, they have been helping clients in ...
Revival Home Health Care is a home health care company located in Brooklyn, New York at 5350 Kings Hwy. They offer in-home personal care services in addition to in-home nursing to seniors. For almost 24 years, they have been ...
Located at 360 Mamaroneck Ave in White Plains, New York, Vns Westchester Chha is a in-home care provider offering personal care as well as in-home health care. For nearly 50 years, they have been helping clients in the White Plains ...
St Johnland N C Lthhcp is a home care company located in Kings Park, NY at 395 Sunken Meadow Rd. They offer personal home care and home health care to seniors. Since 1992, they have been serving customers throughout ...
Located at 1719 Central Ave Ste 3 in Albany, New York, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior home health care company offering personal care as well as in-home medical care. They provide multiple personal services like pet care, offering ...
Located at 360 West 31 Street, 3rd Floor in New York, NY, Extended Home Care is a in-home care provider that offers in-home health care in addition to personal home care services. They have been serving seniors in New York ...
Located in Farmingdale, New York at 110 Bi-county Boulevard, Suite 114, Good Samaritan Hospital Home Health Agy Chha is a home healthcare provider offering in-home nursing services in addition to personal home care services. For nearly 34 years, they ...
Located at 85 Metro Park in Rochester, New York, Hcr Home Care is a senior home care company that offers personal care in addition to in-home medical services. For almost 30 years, they have been providing care to seniors in ...
Located in Brooklyn, NY at 3632 Nostrand Avenue, 4th Floor, Personal Touch Home Aides of New York Inc is a home health care company that offers in-home nursing services along with personal care. They have been providing care in ...
Located in Troy, NY at 433 River Street Suite 3000, Eddy Visiting Nurse Association Chha is a home healthcare service provider offering in-home personal care along with in-home nursing care. Since 1985, they have been helping customers throughout the ...
Lifetime Care is a in-home care service provider based in Rochester, NY at 3111 South Winton Rd. They provide in-home medical care in addition to in-home personal care for seniors. Since 1966, they have been providing care to ...
Located at 400 E 56th St Ofc 2 in New York, New York, Home Instead Senior Care is a in-home care service provider offering in-home health services and also personal care. They offer various medical services such as memory care, ...
Located at 918 Ulster Ave in Kingston, NY, Always There Family Home Health Services is a senior in-home care provider that offers in-home nursing care in addition to personal care services. They have been in operation in New York since ...
Located at 212 Van Wagner Rd in Poughkeepsie, New York, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior home healthcare company offering home health care and also home care services. They provide various personal services like spiritual support, transportation, providing companionship, ...
Located in Getzville, New York at 2700 North Forest Rd, Rosa Coplon Jewish Home and Infirmary Chha is a home health care provider offering personal home care services as well as in-home health care. They have been serving clients in ...
Queens Long Island Certified Home Health Agency is a senior in-home care company located in Flushing, New York at 36-25 Parsons Blvd. They offer in-home health care and personal care services for seniors. For almost 4 years, they have ...
Located in New York, NY at 1261 5th Ave, Lott Community Home Health Care, Inc is a senior in-home care provider offering in-home nursing along with personal care services. For almost 5 years, they have been helping seniors in the ...
Flushing Manor Nursing Home Lthhcp is a home healthcare service provider located in Flushing, NY at 36-25 Parsons Boulevard, Suite Ll-1. They provide in-home personal care services and home healthcare to seniors. They have been in operation in ...
Genworth Financial’s 2019 Cost of Care Survey shows that home care in New York is more costly than the U.S. average. Here, seniors pay around $4,767 per month for home care, compared to the national average of $4,290. This type of care includes nonmedical care, such as assistance with daily activities. Home health care also provides medical services and is slightly more expensive at $4,957 per month, which is $572 higher than the national average of $4,385.
The Cost of Home Care in New York Compared to Nearby States
Although home care costs in New York are higher than the U.S. average, some neighboring states are less affordable. Seniors in Massachusetts pay $5,186 for home care and $5,243 for home health care, while those in Vermont pay $5,196 for both types of care. In New Jersey, the average cost is $4,767 for both home care and home health care, so seniors there pay $190 less for home health care. Pennsylvania is the most affordable of New York’s neighbors, with home care costing $4,385 and home health care averaging $4,481.
Cost of Home Care
Cost of Home Health Care
New York
$4,767
$4,957
The United States
$4,290
$4,385
Financial Assistance for Home Care in New York
New York Medicaid Community First Choice Option
The Community First Choice Option (CFCO) is available to help New Yorkers who require a nursing home level of care. In addition to the care level requirements, applicants must also be living at home or in the home of a relative and meet the financial eligibility requirements for Medicaid. Benefits include assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, such as dressing and grooming. Home health care assistance is also included, plus medical equipment, home modifications and other services designed to help people remain in the community.
Contact Information Applicants must be enrolled for New York Medicaid. People not yet enrolled can call (800) 541-2831 or contact their local Department of Social Services office. Seniors already enrolled in Medicaid can call their care manager to express interest in the CFCO program.
Managed Long Term Care Program
New York’s Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) Program encompasses three plans: Managed Long Term Care Medicaid Program, Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP). All assist New Yorkers with chronic illnesses and disabilities who require assistance to stay living at home. It’s available to individuals eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare who need a level of care provided by a skilled nursing home. People applying for PACE must be aged 55 or older. The benefits include both home care and home health care in addition to a range of other services, as well as assistive technologies and equipment.
The Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) is designed for people who require assistance and wish to have control over who provides services. Participants work with a caseworker and medical professional to determine a care plan and can then hire, train and supervise their care providers. CDPAP allows friends and certain family members to be hired. The benefits are wide ranging and can include personal care and skilled nursing services. Applicants must meet the financial requirements for Medicaid and require assistance with activities of daily living.
Contact Information
New applicants have to apply for the Managed Long Term Care Program first before applying for CDPAP. Both applications can be made through a local Department of Social Services office.
New York Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly
The Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program (EISEP) provides nonmedical services, such as personal care, homemaker services and transportation assistance, to seniors living in their homes who don’t qualify for Medicaid. It also provides support services such as case management. This care can be consumer-directed, and in some parts of New York, certain family members can be hired as care providers. Applicants must be aged 60 or older and need assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. There are also cost sharing rules based on the participant’s income.
Contact Information This program is administered locally and seniors can contact their local Area Agency on Aging to apply.
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.
New York Home Care Rules and Regulations
The New York State Department of Health licenses home care agencies in the state. Organizations can either be Certified Home Health Agencies (CHHAs) or Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LHCSAs), with each agency type offering different levels of care. The table below gives an overview of the relevant rules and regulations in the state.
Scope of Care
CHHAs are paid by Medicaid or Medicare and provide medical services. Agencies must provide nursing services, home health aide services and medical supplies, equipment and appliances. They must also provide at least one other service, such as physical or occupational therapy.
LHCSAs provide personal care services, such as assistance with activities of daily living, light housekeeping and meal preparation.
Care Plan Requirements
Licensed medical doctors must authorize a person’s need for CHHA services. The assessment form must describe the person’s medical condition and type of care required.
For LHCSA recipients, a plan of care must be established based on a professional assessment of their needs. It must be reviewed at least every 6 months, and should be revised as frequently as necessary to reflect changing needs.
Medication Management Requirements
Home health aides, who are usually employed by CHHAs, can administer medication under the clinical supervision of a registered nurse. Personal care aides, who are usually employed by LHCSAs, cannot administer medication.
Staff Screening Requirements
All healthcare workers in New York must undergo criminal history record checks, Statewide Central Register Database checks and Staff Exclusion List checks. In addition, home care workers must be immunized against rubella and measles and be certified as free of tuberculosis.
Staff Training Requirements
Personnel must have the education necessary to perform their duties. Personal care aides must participate in six hours of in-service education per year. For home health aides, the continuing education requirement is 12 hours. Advanced home health aides must have 18 hours of continuing education annually that covers medication management, infection control and injection safety, and the training must directly supervised by a registered professional nurse.
Medicaid Coverage
Services from CHHAs are generally covered by Medicaid programs such as MLTC and CFCO.
Reporting Abuse
Abuse should be reported to the Division of Home and Community Based Care at (800) 628-5972 or [email protected].
Free Home Care Resources in New York
Seniors in New York 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:
Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage
The Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program, known as EPIC, helps seniors with the cost of prescription medication. It’s available to people eligible for Medicare Part D who meet the income eligibility requirements. It pays for Medicare Part D premiums, prescription payments and some drugs not covered by Part D, such as cold medications. Seniors can opt for a fee plan, which costs between $8 and $300, depending on income, or a deductible plan. The deductible plan is free, however participants must meet an annual deductible before they’re eligible for benefits.
Contact Information Seniors can call (800) 332-3742 for more information or download an application form from the website to apply.
Residential Emergency Services To Offer Repairs To the Elderly
New York’s Residential Emergency Services To Offer Repairs to the Elderly, known as RESTORE, provides financial assistance to help low-income seniors repair their home. Participants must be at least 60 years of age and meet the income eligibility requirements. They must also own their home, which may be up to a four-unit residence, and reside in the home. RESTORE covers a wide variety of repairs, including structural, plumbing and heating repairs. It also covers modifications to make the home more accessible, such as ramps and grab bars.
Contact Information Seniors can get contact information for their local administrator by contacting the Division of Housing Community Renewal at (866) 275-3427.
Area Agencies on Aging
New York has 59 local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) that provide support and services to older adults in the state. The agencies provide advice and guidance on a wide range of subjects, including health insurance and planning support, and can help people apply for benefits. Seniors can also be connected to key services through the agencies, such as transportation, home-delivered meals and in-home support.
New York’s Community Services for the Elderly (CSE) program provides support to residents who need help to safely remain living in their homes. It’s available to residents aged 60 or older, and applicants must need the help they’re requesting. Although there are no financial eligibility requirements, seniors with higher incomes may have to pay a cost share. The program is administered by local AAAs, and the exact benefits available in each locality may differ based on need and budget. Some services available include personal care, companionship visits and respite care.
Contact Information Seniors should contact their local Area Agency on Aging to apply.
Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program
The state’s Health Insurance Information, Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) has trained counselors available to help New Yorkers with their health insurance. Counselors can assist with questions about Medicare, Medicare Advantage, prescription drug coverage and other health and long-term care insurance options. The program is administered by the local AAA in most counties, although there are also community agencies that provide information.
Contact Information Seniors can connect with a trained HIICAP counselor through their local Area Agency on Aging or by calling (800) 701-0501.
New York State Division of Veterans’ Services
New York seniors who served in the military, and their spouses, can access assistance through the Division of Veterans’ Services. The division has Veterans Benefits Advisors available to help veterans identify and apply for benefits they’re entitled to, such as the VA Aid and Attendance and the Housebound Allowance programs, and can assist with appealing an unfavorable ruling. The division also administers the Blind Annuity program, which provides a stipend for visually impaired veterans.
Contact Information Veterans and their families can call the Division's helpline at (888) 838-7697 to be referred to their nearest Veterans Benefits Advisor.