Home Care in Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn has a lot to offer seniors who want to stay living in their homes with the help of home care. The city is home to more than 2.7 million people and 14.4%, or almost 400,000, are aged 65 and over. With so many older adults living in the borough, it’s easy to find resources and support. Whether you’re looking for in-home care, home-delivered meals or an opportunity to socialize with peers, Brooklyn has a service available.

Being in New York also means seniors are close to some of the country’s best hospitals, including many that have geriatric specialists on staff. People aged 65 and older can get discounted fares on the city’s subways and buses, and there’s a paratransit service available for people who can’t use the regular transit options. In addition, there’s always something to do, from strolling through Prospect Park, supporting one of the local teams or experiencing Brooklyn’s arts scene.

Other factors in Brooklyn’s favor include the state’s income tax policy, which doesn’t tax Social Security and has large deductibles for other types of retirement income. Although winters can be cold, Brooklyn gets plenty of sunny days so seniors can enjoy everything the city has to offer.

The average cost of both home care and home health care in Brooklyn is $4,957 per month, according to Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey. In some locations, home health care prices are higher to account for the medical services it provides.

These average monthly prices for home care are based on a senior receiving 44 hours of care each week. The amount you can expect to pay will differ based on how much care you need each week, so it can be helpful to look at the hourly costs for home care in the city. In Brooklyn, the average hourly rate is $26 for home care and home health care services.

The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities

The cost of home care in Brooklyn is in the middle of the range when compared to nearby cities. Kingston has the most affordable care in the area, with seniors in the city paying $4,385 for both types of in-home services. Poughkeepsie’s prices are equal to Brooklyn’s at $4,957 per month. Albany has the highest rates, with average costs of $5,148 for home care and $5,196 for home health care.

Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.

New York City Department for the Aging

What You Should Know
The NYC Department for the Aging is the Area Agency on Aging for New York City’s five boroughs. It partners with community-based organizations across the city to help seniors remain living independently. Seniors can access health insurance counseling, transportation, legal help and more through the department.

Case management services are available to help you coordinate in-home care services. Certain statewide programs for in-home care, including Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly and Community Services for the Elderly, are also coordinated through the department. In addition, the department funds nearly 250 senior centers across the city where you can join in educational and social activities, enjoy lunches and participate in wellness and other programs.

Who Is Eligible?
Services are available to all New York City seniors. Most programs are available to people aged 60 or older, but some programs may have specific eligibility requirements.

How to Get Started
To find out more about services provided by NYC Department for the Aging, call Aging Connect at (212) 244-6469 or send a message through the website.

Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities

What You Should Know
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, or NORCs, are buildings or neighborhoods that weren’t originally built for older adults, but now house a high proportion of seniors. Often these communities occur when people move into a neighborhood when young and remain as they age.

The NORC program provides supportive services to people where they live. Seniors living in NORCs can access a range of resources and activities, including fitness classes, benefits counseling and case management assistance in their building. There are dozens of NORCs in the city, and you may already live in one in the Brooklyn area. If not, you can choose to move into a NORC to access these services.

Who Is Eligible?
NORC services are available to anyone aged 60 or over who lives in a NORC catchment area.

How to Get Started
More information about NORC buildings and neighborhoods in the city can be found by contacting NYC Department of Aging at (212) 244-6469 or contacting the New York State Office for the Aging program staff at [email protected].

Home Care Services Program 

What You Should Know
The Home Care Services Program is an umbrella term for a number of Medicaid-funded programs that provide long-term care. These programs are designed to help older adults and people with a disability remain living in their home, rather than moving to a nursing home. The exact services offered differ based on the program and your needs, but can include personal care services, home health aides, case management and physical therapy.

Who Is Eligible?
To gain access to these programs, you must be eligible for Medicaid in New York. This involves meeting the state’s financial eligibility criteria. Each program has specific functional eligibility criteria, although in most cases you must require a nursing home level of care.

How to Get Started
In Brooklyn, the Home Care Services Program is overseen by the NYC Human Resources Administration Office of Special Services. You can contact the Brooklyn office at (718) 250-5631, or visit during business hours at the Third floor, 88 Third Avenue, Brooklyn.

Citymeals on Wheels 

What You Should Know
Citymeals on Wheels provides companionship and nutritious meals to homebound seniors throughout New York City. It supplements the city’s own meal delivery program that provides meals on weekdays. Citymeals delivers meals on weekends and major holidays to ensure seniors receive good nutrition every day. It also has a number of programs that provide nonperishable, shelf-stable meals, including emergency meals, food packages and a mobile food pantry.

In addition to the meal delivery programs, Citymeals works to make connections with isolated seniors. You can arrange to have a volunteer visit or chat with you over the phone. Volunteers also deliver homemade cards to program participants for birthdays and holidays and respond to mail from meal recipients with personalized letters.

Who Is Eligible?
Meals are available to people aged 60 or older who don’t have anyone to prepare meals for them and who can’t prepare meals for themselves. Applicants must also be able to live safely at home with services and be physically or mentally incapacitated and in need of assistance.

How to Get Started
Seniors can apply for assistance from Citymeals through their local Case Management Agency. You can search for your local agency on the Citymeals website.

Jewish Association Serving the Aging 

What You Should Know
The Jewish Association Serving the Aging, or JASA, provides critical services to New York City’s aging population. The support is intended to help older adults remain living at home or in their community. JASA’s Help Center answers queries from seniors and their families about services and resources available around the city. JASA also runs senior centers where you can access meals, social activities and computer literacy programs. Other services provided by JASA include legal services, mental health support and community health programs.

Who Is Eligible?
JASA’s services are available to older adults in the New York metropolitan area, with programs available for people aged 55 and older. Services are available to people of all races, religions and economic backgrounds.

How to Get Started
To get started with JASA programs, call the Help Center at (212) 273-5272 or email [email protected].