Home Care in North Dakota
North Dakota is a beautiful state in the U.S. Midwest with a rich immigrant history and a thriving economy thanks to its strength in both agriculture and oil. Of the state's 762,062 population, 15.7% are aged 65 or over. North Dakota is ranked the fourth-best state in the country for retirement by Kiplinger magazine. The low cost of living and fairly favorable tax policies contribute to the appeal of the state.
The SeniorScore for North Dakota is 68. This score, which rates states based on how appealing they might be for seniors to retire based on a variety of important metrics such as cost of living, medical care services and recreation options, is slightly lower than the national average of 72. The state scores 68 in the Finances category, thanks to having lower-than-average sales taxes and income taxes. It scored 61 in the General Quality of Life category due to the relatively cold climate. Seniors can take advantage of the state's large number of municipal parks and golf courses, along with a variety of recreation options at local senior centers.
This guide considers the cost of home care and home health care in North Dakota, financial assistance available to local seniors and other related services to help seniors age in place.
Top Home Care Agencies in North Dakota
Located in Minot, North Dakota at 1015 S Broadway Ste 306, Trinity Hospitals Home Health is a home health care provider that offers personal care and also in-home medical care. Since 1988, they have been serving customers in the ...
Located at 2100 S Columbia Rd Ste 116 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Comfort Keepers is a senior home healthcare service provider offering in-home care and also in-home medical services. They provide a variety of personal services such as help ...
Located at 1380 South Columbia Rd in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Altru's Home Health is a senior home healthcare service provider offering home healthcare and also in-home personal care. For almost 39 years, they have been providing care to customers ...
Sanford Home Care Fargo is a home care provider located in Fargo, ND at 1711 S University Dr. They provide in-home personal care services and in-home medical care to senior clientele. For nearly 33 years, they have been serving ...
Home Helpers is a home care company located in Grand Forks, North Dakota at 215 N 3rd St Ste 202c. They offer in-home nursing and home care services to senior clients. They provide various personal services including transportation assitance, ...
Located at 1205 4th Ave S Ste 2 in Fargo, North Dakota, Comfort Keepers is a home healthcare provider offering in-home personal care and also in-home health services. They can provide different medical services including colostomy support, administration of injections, ...
Located in Fargo, ND at 505 Broadway N Ste 204, Home Instead Senior Care is a senior in-home care service provider offering personal home care services and in-home medical care. They provide different medical services such as stroke care, diabetes ...
Located at 1102 Page Dr SW in Fargo, ND, Sisters of Mary of Presentation Prairieland Home Care is a home care service provider that offers in-home personal care services along with in-home health services. They have been operating in the ...
Located at 1307 N 7th St in Wahpeton, ND, Benedictine Home Health is a senior home care service provider that offers home healthcare as well as home care services. For nearly 21 years, they have been serving customers in the ...
Located at 510 8th Ave NE in Hazen, ND, Sakakawea Home Health is a home care company that offers in-home care and in-home health care. For almost 24 years, they have been providing care to customers in the Hazen area. ...
Located in Bismarck, ND at 309 N Mandan St, Ste 4, Good Samaritan Society - Home Care is a senior home healthcare service provider offering in-home care and in-home health services. They have been serving customers in North Dakota since ...
Located in Rolla, North Dakota at 1104 Highway 5 W, Tri Care Home Health, Inc is an in-home care service provider offering in-home nursing care along with personal care. They have been serving customers in Rolla for 32 years. They ...
Located in Jamestown, ND at 2422 20th St SW, Jamestown Regional Medical Center Home Health is a home healthcare company that offers in-home health care and also personal care services. They have been in operation in Jamestown for 52 years. ...
Located in Valley City, North Dakota at 367 2nd St NW, Mercy Home Care Services is a senior home care service provider that offers in-home medical care in addition to home care. Since 1985, they have been helping customers ...
Located at 115- 2nd Avenue West Suite #50 in Williston, North Dakota, Mercy Home Care is a senior home care provider offering in-home nursing care along with in-home care. They have been in operation in North Dakota for 34 years. ...
Located in Mandan, North Dakota at 910 18th St NW, Sanford Home Care is a home care provider that offers in-home medical services and also home care. They have been operating in the area since 1984. They offer medical social ...
Located at 230 4th St NW Rm 102 in Valley City, ND, City County Health District is a senior home healthcare provider that offers home care along with in-home nursing services. For nearly 36 years, they have been providing care ...
St Alexius Home Care and Hospice is a home care provider based in Bismarck, North Dakota at 1212 E Main Ave. They provide in-home medical care along with in-home personal care services to senior clientele. They have been operating ...
St Joseph's Hospital and Health Center Home Health is a in-home care service provider located in Dickinson, ND at 986 2nd Ave West. They provide personal care in addition to in-home medical services for senior clientele. For almost 39 ...
Good Samaritan Society Home Care is a senior in-home care provider located in Larimore, North Dakota at 501 Front St E. They offer in-home nursing services as well as in-home personal care services to senior clients. Since 2003, they ...
The Cost of Home Care in North Dakota
The Genworth Financial Cost of Care Survey 2019 lists the cost of home care services in North Dakota at $5,148 per month compared to a national average of $4,290. Home care services include help with the activities of daily living, light housework and other chores. Home health care services, which provide similar services to home care plus light medical care, cost slightly more, at $5,331 per month, compared to $4,385 nationally.
The Cost of Home Care in North Dakota Compared to Nearby States
Home care services in North Dakota are $858 per month more expensive than the national average, and home care services cost $946 per month more. Fees are competitive with neighboring states, however, with home care and home health care in North Dakota costing less than in South Dakota, Minnesota and Wyoming. Montana is the only nearby state with lower average fees, with home care costing $576 less per month and home health care being $755 cheaper.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
North Dakota | $5,148 | $5,331 |
The United States | $4,290 | $4,385 |
South Dakota | $5,339 | $5,339 |
Minnesota | $5,529 | $5,815 |
Montana | $4,576 | $4,576 |
Wyoming | $5,339 | $5,384 |
The Cost of Other Senior Care Options in North Dakota
Seniors living in North Dakota have several other options for their care, including assisted living, adult day care services and nursing home care. Adult day health care services are provided in a group setting during daytime hours and are the most affordable, at $2,059 per month. Assisted living facilities offer room and board and help with the activities of daily living for $3,405 per month. Nursing homes provide room and board plus skilled nursing care around the clock and are the most expensive, with monthly fees of $11,875.
- In-Home Care: $5,148
- Home Health Care: $5,331
- Adult Day Care: $2,059
- Assisted Living Facility: $3,405
- Nursing Home Care: $11,875
The Cost of Home Care in North Dakota's Top Cities
Home care fees vary across the state of North Dakota. Bismarck, in the heart of the state, is the most affordable city for home care and home health care services, with fees averaging just $2,669 per month. On the western edge of the state, in Fargo, fees are closer to the state average, at $5,148 per month for home care and $5,331 for home health care. In Grand Forks, fees are similar, at $5,331 for both services. This is in stark contrast to over the border in South Dakota, where typical costs in Rapid City are $6,673 for home care and home health care.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
North Dakota | $5,335 | $5,339 |
Bismarck | $2,669 | $2,669 |
Grand Forks | $5,331 | $5,331 |
Fargo | $5,148 | $5,331 |
Rapid City, SD | $6,673 | $6,673 |
Financial Assistance for Home Care in North Dakota
Personal Care Services Medicaid Program
Medicaid State Plan - Personal Care Services provides personal care services to eligible adults who live at home or in the home of a loved one. There are three levels of services available, based on the level of care that the applicant is assessed as needing. Care services can be consumer-directed, and applicants may hire an adult friend or relative as long as that person is suitably qualified. Applicants must meet both functional needs and income requirements.
Contact Information
For more information about the program, eligibility requirements and how to apply, seniors can call (800) 472-2622.
Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver
The Aged and Disabled Medicaid Waiver is a Home and Community-Based Services Waiver open to adults residing in North Dakota who require a nursing home level of care but wish to live outside of a nursing institution. Relatives, including adult children, may be hired to provide care under the waiver, but the waiver recipient cannot choose how much caregivers are paid. Seniors must meet income and asset limits and pass a needs assessment to receive the waiver.
Contact Information
For more information about this waiver, the eligibility requirements and application process, seniors can call (855) 462-5465.
Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled
The North Dakota Department of Human Services runs two programs, the Service Payments for the Elderly and Disabled and the Expanded SPED. Both programs offer a variety of services to support the elderly or disabled as they live independently within the community. Services include assistance with the activities of daily living, home modifications, transportation, personal emergency response systems and case management. SPED is aimed at those who have more severe functional impairments, while Ex-SPED is open to a wider range of applicants but offers more limited support.
Contact Information
For more information about the SPED programs and their eligibility requirements, seniors can call the Aging and Disability Resource Center at (855) 462-5465.
Older Americans Act
The Older Americans Act provides seniors with a variety of services, including home-delivered meals or access to congregate nutrition, transportation services and companion care. The program is federally funded and is open to those 60 and over. There are no fixed income or asset requirements; however individual services may opt to prioritize lower-income seniors.
Contact Information
To learn more about the services offered under the Older Americans Act, seniors can email [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 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.
North Dakota Home Care Rules and Regulations
Home care in North Dakota is classed as supportive services and are delivered by home health aides. The North Dakota Department of Human Services governs home health agencies and has many laws and regulations in place to ensure seniors receive a high standard of care.
Scope of Care | Supportive services include assistance with the activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, supporting seniors as they remain in their own homes. Caregivers can perform a variety of nonmedical tasks, including assisting with bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding and day-to-day jobs such as shopping, laundry and housework. Only home health care aides can provide medical services, and no service provider is permitted to offer skilled services outside the scope of their training. |
Care Plan Requirements | Care plans must be devised by a home care agency and reviewed at least once every 62 days by a registered nurse. The care plan must include any relevant medical information, care goals, a list of care services to be provided and any safety precautions or special needs the patient may have. |
Medication Management Requirements | Home care aides may offer medication reminders but aren't permitted to administer medications. |
Staff Screening Requirements | Home health aides must pass a background check that includes a review of the licensure boards for any recent disciplinary actions or terminations. |
Staff Training Requirements | Home health aides are required to complete a training program that includes 16 hours of classroom training and 16 hours of supervised practical training plus additional study to total 75 hours. They must pass a competency evaluation every two years and receive 12 hours of continuing professional development per year. |
Medicaid Coverage | The Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver includes in-home care services, as does the Personal Care Services Program. |
Reporting Abuse | Reports relating to elder abuse, neglect or exploitation can be made to the North Dakota Vulnerable Adult Protective Services Department by calling (855) 462-5465. There is also an online reporting system. |
Free Home Care Resources in North Dakota
Seniors in North Dakota 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:
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps households on a low income cover their energy costs. To qualify for the program, a household must have an income at or below 60% of the median income in the state. The program covers part of the cost of electricity, gas, wood and other fuel sources and also covers weatherization, furnace repair, chimney cleaning and other similar expenses.
Contact Information
For more information or to apply for assistance, residents can call (701) 328-2332.
Homestead Property Tax Credits
Those aged 65 and over who are on a low income may qualify for the Homestead Property Tax Credit. This credit is offered by The Office of the State Tax Commissioner and relieves the financial burdens associated with homeownership. The office also manages other credits, such as the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Credit.
Contact Information
For more information about property tax credits, homeowners can contact the county director of tax equalization.
State Health Insurance Counseling Program
The State Health Insurance Counseling Program provides North Dakota residents with free, impartial advice on Medicare and other health insurance products. Trained advisors help residents choose the right Medicare, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans and are qualified to answer questions about insurance policies. This service is provided free of charge, and advisors don't receive any commission for referring service users to providers.
Contact Information
To find the nearest SHIC program sponsor, seniors can call (701) 328-2440.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program connects older adults with organizations looking for volunteers. Seniors can learn new skills or keep their existing skills sharp while helping local community organizations. Volunteers may receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses and get the chance to make valuable social connections. They can choose to volunteer for just a couple of hours each week or make a greater time commitment.
Contact Information
To reach the nearest RSVP team leader, potential volunteers can email [email protected].
North Dakota Senior Services Providers
The North Dakota Senior Services Providers organization is made up of 30 nonprofits that offer services for seniors across the state. These organizations provide chore services, meal deliveries, transportation, legal assistance and a variety of other services.
Contact Information
For information about local service providers, seniors can check the NDSSP website.