Home Care in Wyoming
With low taxes, plenty of outdoor space to explore and a high safety rating, Wyoming is an ideal place for seniors to retire. According to Kiplinger, Wyoming seniors have the lowest overall state and local tax burden in the country, making it the most tax-friendly state for retirees. A lack of state income tax is part of the reason for this rank. Of the 563,626 people who call Wyoming home, just over 17% are age 65 and older.
Wyoming's SeniorScore, which ranks its appropriateness for seniors based on Finances, General Quality of Life, Healthy & Safety and Recreation & Leisure, is 66, which is lower than the national average of 72. It ranked highest in Finances with a score of 80. Low property taxes and sales taxes mean seniors can stretch their retirement savings when they call Wyoming home. The mild weather and low precipitation earned Wyoming a score of 61 for General Quality of Life.
This guide will break down some of the resources available to seniors who wish to live at home in Wyoming, while also comparing the cost of home care in the state with other nearby states.
Top Home Care Agencies in Wyoming
Continue Care Home Health is a senior home healthcare company based in Cheyenne, Wyoming at 410 Manewal Dr. They provide home care services as well as in-home health care for seniors. For almost 26 years, they have been ...
Located in Lander, Wyoming at 230 N 1st St, Frontier Home Health and Hospice - Lander is a senior home care company offering in-home health care along with in-home personal care. Since 1992, they have been helping clients in the ...
Located in Newcastle, Wyoming at 725 Washington Plaza, Weston County Health Services Home Health is a senior home care provider offering in-home nursing in addition to personal care. For nearly 25 years, they have been serving customers throughout the Newcastle ...
Home Instead Senior Care is a home health care service provider based in Cheyenne, WY at 307 E 18th St. They provide home health care and in-home personal care services to seniors. They can provide a variety of medical ...
Located at 204 Mccollum Dr #106 in Laramie, Wyoming, Summit Home Health Care, Laramie WY is a senior in-home care company offering in-home medical services and personal home care. They have been operating in the area for 8 years. ...
Located at 4024 Laramie St in Cheyenne, WY, Frontier Home Health - Cheyenne, Wyoming is a home care company offering in-home personal care services as well as home healthcare. For nearly 8 years, they have been helping customers throughout ...
Located at 800 Werner Court Suite 200 in Casper, WY, Sharon's Home Health Casper is a home care service provider offering home health services along with in-home care. For almost 9 years, they have been helping seniors throughout the Casper ...
Young at Heart SHOme Health Care is a home care provider based in Rock Springs, WY at 2400 Reagan. They provide personal care services in addition to in-home medical care to senior clientele. For nearly 11 years, they have ...
Located at 8625 South Washington, Suite B in Afton, Wyoming, Access Home Care is a senior home care service provider that offers home care along with home health care. They have been serving clients in Wyoming since 2006. They offer ...
Located at 116 North Little Horn in Moorcroft, Wyoming, Sharon's Home Health is a senior in-home care provider that offers home care services in addition to in-home medical services. For nearly 20 years, they have been serving customers in the ...
Located in Jackson, Wyoming at 555 East Broadway, Suite 115, St. John's Medical Center Home Care & Hospice is a senior home healthcare company offering personal home care and in-home health care. They have been in operation in Wyoming since ...
Located at 1229 Uinta St in Evanston, Wyoming, Uinta Home Health is a senior home healthcare provider that offers home health care along with in-home personal care services. For almost 24 years, they have been helping clients in the Evanston ...
Located at 427 Big Horn in Thermopolis, Wyoming, Community Home Health is a home health care service provider that offers home health care and also personal care. They have been serving customers in Wyoming since 1993. They can provide different ...
Located at 2600 E 18th St in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Home Care Service is an in-home care service provider offering in-home health care as well as in-home personal care. Since 1975, they have been helping clients in ...
Frontier Home Health and Hospice - Casper is a senior home health care service provider located in Casper, WY at 907 N Poplar Street, Suite 153. They provide in-home medical care and personal care to senior clients. They have ...
Located in Casper, WY at 1010 East 1st Street, Suite A, Interim Healthcare of Wyoming is a senior home care company offering in-home personal care services in addition to in-home nursing care. They have been operating in the area ...
Sheridan Memorial Hospital Home Care & Hospice is a senior in-home care service provider located in Sheridan, WY at 1401 W 5th St. They offer personal care services along with in-home medical services for senior clients. For nearly 26 ...
Campbell County Memorial Hospital Home Health is a in-home care company based in Gillette, WY at 300 South Burma Ave. They provide in-home health care and also personal home care services for senior clients. Since 1991, they have been ...
Located at 428 Alan Rd in Powell, Wyoming, Powell Valley Healthcare is a home health care service provider offering personal care services and also home healthcare. They have been serving clients in Wyoming for nearly 29 years. They provide various ...
Located in Cody, Wyoming at 1021 9th St, West Park Hospital Home Health is a senior home health care provider offering personal care services and home healthcare. Since 1988, they have been helping seniors throughout the Cody area. They ...
The Cost of Home Care in Wyoming
Seniors in Wyoming who wish to age in place at home pay an average of $5,339 for home care, according to the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. Home care includes companionship and housekeeping help. Those who need help with medical care, such as dressing wounds or administering medications, may require home health care, which averages $5,384. This is higher than the $4,290 average for home care and $4,385 average for home health care in the United States.
The Cost of Home Care in Wyoming Compared to Nearby States
Home care in Wyoming costs more than it does in nearby states, and it's more expensive than the national average. The average cost in Colorado is $4,957 for both home care and home health care. Both Montana and Utah have a $4,576 average for both types of home care, and it's slightly more in Nebraska, where home care averages $4,671, and home health care averages $4,957.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
Wyoming | $5,339 | $5,384 |
The United States | $4,290 | $4,385 |
Colorado | $4,957 | $4,957 |
Nebraska | $4,671 | $4,957 |
Montana | $4,576 | $4,576 |
Utah | $4,576 | $4,576 |
The Cost of Other Senior Care Options in Wyoming
Seniors who retire in Wyoming can choose from additional types of care. The most affordable is adult day care, which provides care during the day and allows the senior to live at home at night. It costs $1,560 per month. Assisted living care, which allows a senior to live in a care center apartment and receive daily help, averages $3,780, while care in a nursing home with a semiprivate room is the most costly, at $7,346.
- Home Care: $5,339
- Home Health Care: $5,384
- Adult Day Care: $1,560
- Assisted Living Facility: $3,780
- Nursing Home Care: $7,346
The Cost of Home Care in Wyoming's Top Cities
The average cost of home care varies throughout Wyoming and cities in nearby states. While the average in Wyoming is $5,339 for home care, in Cheyenne it's far less at $4,671, and in Casper, it costs a little more at $5,434. Across the border in Fort Collins, Colorado, the cost is a little less at $5,053, while in Logan, Utah, it costs even less at $4,099.
| Cost of Home Care | Cost of Home Health Care |
Wyoming | $5,339 | $5,384 |
Casper | $5,434 | $5,625 |
Cheyenne | $4,671 | $4,671 |
Fort Collins, CO | $5,053 | $5,053 |
Logan, UT | $4,099 | $4,099 |
Financial Assistance for Home Care in Wyoming
Wyoming Home Services Program
Through the Wyoming Home Services Program, seniors and other qualified individuals who are at risk of premature institutionalization can get the help they need. This program provides care coordination, personal care services, chore and housekeeping help and respite care, with the goal of keeping the individual in the least restrictive environment possible. This is often home care for qualified seniors.
Contact Information
Seniors can get help finding their local WyHS office by calling (800) 442-2766.
Wyoming Community Choices Waiver
The Community Choices Waiver is a Medicaid waiver program in Wyoming that allows Medicaid-eligible seniors to access community-based services to help them live well at home. This program allows adults aged 65 and older to use their Medicaid benefit to pay for home-based care. This includes skilled nursing help, adult day care, transportation services and personal care.
Contact Information
For information about the Community Choices Waivers program, seniors can email [email protected].
Wyoming PACE
Wyoming PACE, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a program administered through the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center that is designed to allow older residents of Wyoming to age at home with dignity. This program is open to adults aged 55 and older, and it takes care of all medical and long-term care needs. This is currently only available to residents of Laramie County.
Contact Information
For more information about PACE, Laramie County residents can call (307) 773-8112.
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.
Wyoming Home Care Rules and Regulations
In-home care in Wyoming is overseen by the Wyoming Department of Health. State of Wyoming Rules Chapter 9 governs program administration for home health agencies, while Chapter 10 covers licensure requirements. In order to receive Medicaid funding, all home care agencies must follow these guidelines.
Scope of Care | Home aides provide nonmedical care to seniors in their homes, including homemaking services and personal care. They may help their clients take medication as required by a doctor. Home health aides provide basic medical care in addition to home care. This may include medication administration, wound care, incontinence care and therapy. |
Care Plan Requirements | Home health agencies must create personal care plans for their clients, and Wyoming state law gives the client the right to have a say in making those care plans. Care plans include information about the patient's condition and physical needs. Instructions based on the written plan must be provided to home health aides every 60 days. |
Medication Management Requirements | Home care professionals cannot administer medication. This requires the care of a home health aide who is a licensed CNA. Home health aides must follow the care plan put forth by the individual's physician. |
Staff Screening Requirements | In addition, home health aides are supervised by an RN or LPN every 30 days. |
Staff Training Requirements | Home health aides must be CNAs and complete proper CNA training. This includes 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised clinical training. After getting hired, home health aides must complete an additional 16 hours of home health training within the first two weeks. |
Medicaid Coverage | Medicaid-eligible seniors can use the Community Choices Waiver to pay for home-based care using their Medicaid coverage. |
Reporting Abuse | Any suspected abuse of a senior must be reported to the Department of Family Services through Adult Protective Services. Families can call (800) 457-3659 24 hours a day to report abuse. |
Free Home Care Resources in Wyoming
Seniors in Wyoming 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:
Wyoming Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
The Wyoming Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program connects seniors who are receiving home health care the option to partner with an ombudsman, or citizen representative, to ensure their rights are protected. The Ombudsman advocates on behalf of the senior to ensure they get the care and services they are entitled to, including home health care. This individual also helps resolve problems if the senior is having trouble getting access to care.
Contact Information
Seniors can call (307) 777-2885 to find the nearest local ombudsman.
Wyoming State Health Insurance Information Program
The Wyoming State Health Insurance Information Program connects seniors and other Medicare- and Medicaid-eligible individuals with counseling to help them understand their rights and health care options. This is a free service with specially trained counselors that can help seniors find the health plan that fits their needs. Counselors can also advise clients on how to understand and use their medical benefits.
Contact Information
To connect with WSHIIP, seniors can call (800) 856-4398.
Nutrition Services
Nutrition Services provides hot meals to seniors either through home delivery or congregate meal sites. Home-bound seniors can receive meals that cover one-third of their Recommended Dietary Allowance.
Contact Information
Seniors can call (307) 777-5048 to learn more about Nutrition Services.
National Family Caregiver Support Program
Wyoming participates in the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Through this program, family caregivers can get connected to local support groups that make their jobs easier. They can also obtain respite help when they need a break from caregiving duties.
Contact Information
Families who need help from the National Family Caregiver Support Program can call (800) 442-2766. They can also email [email protected] for more information.
Senior Companion Program
Through the Senior Companion Program, seniors can get connected with senior companions who can provide companionship and basic home care. The program provides needed companionship that helps reduce the risk of loneliness for seniors living alone. It also ensures basic home care tasks, like housekeeping, are accomplished.
Contact Information
Seniors can contact the SCP by calling (307) 634-1010.
Foster Grandparent Program
Through the Foster Grandparent Program, older adults living in Wyoming can volunteer to spend time with children in need in their communities. This gives older adults the chance to contribute to their communities, and it can serve as a source of companionship as well. Foster Grandparent participants spend five to 40 hours a week with the children they're paired with, and they receive a small stipend for their efforts.
Contact Information
Seniors interested in this program can learn about openings by calling (800) 856-4398.