The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Fort Wayne, IN for 2024 | Caring.com (2024)

In Caring’s 2022 Senior Living report, Fort Wayne, Indiana, is listed among the best places to retire. The city offers seniors the conveniences of living in a big city with the atmosphere of a small town, a low cost of living and access to many arts and cultural events, entertainment and outdoor activities that appeal to older generations. Fort Wayne is home to some of the nation’s best hospitals, including Parkview Regional Medical Center and Lutheran Hospital.

Home care services in Fort Wayne costs an average of $5,339 per month, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. While home care provides assistance with daily living, home health care includes light medical services usually provided by a registered nurse or certified therapist.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Fort Wayne– complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

Per Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, seniors in Fort Wayne who prefer to age in place can expect to pay a monthly average of $5,339, which is $572 more than the state average and $382 more than the national average. Prices are lower just south of Fort Wayne in Muncie and in central Indiana in Indianapolis. Even lower rates for home care can be found in Terre Haute while just northwest of Fort Wayne in Elkhart, costs are higher.

While home care includes personal care, home health care offers limited skilled nursing services and physical therapy. Fort Wayne’s average home care rate matches the home health care average of $5,339 per month. Adult day care provides assistance and recreational activities in a group setting and costs $4,147 less than home care. At $1,854 less than home care, assisted living may be a more economical option as it offers services similar to home care and also includes the cost of housing and meals. On average, nursing home care costs $2,235 more per month than home care.

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursem*nt for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.

Home care services are only one of the pieces needed for seniors to gracefully age in place. There are many services and programs that are low-cost or free, that enable seniors to enjoy an independent lifestyle in the comfort of their own home, such as help with home modifications, meal delivery services, and more. Below, we’ve compiled a few of the most helpful resources in Fort Wayne:

Aging can be a difficult process, and loved ones may not always ask for help –oftentimes it’s up to their family to evaluate their need for help around the house. While no two situations are exactly alike, this checklist can help you and your loved ones determine when it’s time to start the search for a home care provider.

If you’ve determined that your loved one needs the assistance of a care provider in their home, it may be time for a difficult conversation. Handled correctly, however, this process can bring a family together and ensure that everyone’s concerns are addressed. Use this PDF as a starting point to help the conversation stay as positive and productive as possible.