LTC Costs: Most Expensive States for In-Home Care

Many people say they would prefer to stay in their homes as they age. According to Bob Bua, vice president of CareScout, a subsidiary of Genworth that conducted the firm's annual Cost of Care survey, the desire for home care bears out in the data. About 70% of Genworth's first claims are for in-home care and 63% of final claims are for people still in their homes. "When people begin long-term care services, they prefer to receive those services in their homes," Bua says.

Fortunately for those who prefer home care, the costs are much less than facilities-based care – and they're rising at a slower pace. According to the survey, the cost of care in a facility setting has jumped 4% over the last five years while home care costs – specifically for home health aides -- have increased just 1% over that period.

Following are the 10 most expensive states for home health aide services – one of the least expensive of the types of care the study looks at. For each state you'll see the median annual cost for a home health aide working 44 hours a week for 52 weeks, the annualized growth rate over five years, the most and least expensive metropolitan areas and, as a point of comparison, the median annual cost of care for a room in a private nursing home in that state. – Samantha Allen



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Many clients would prefer to stay in their homes as they age -- for both emotional and financial reasons. In-home care costs much less than facilities-based care, and those costs are rising at a slower pace.

Many clients would prefer to stay in their homes as they age -- for both emotional and financial reasons. In-home care costs much less than facilities-based care, and those costs are rising at a slower pace.