TABLE OF CONTENTS
According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2021, you can expect to pay an average of $4,767 a month for home care in Indiana. Home care typically includes caregiver services and companion care. Home health care also costs $4,767 a month, which includes more medically based services from a licensed professional.
Indiana is fairly affordable by the standards of both the national average and of neighboring states. The $4,767 monthly cost in Indiana is a few hundred dollars less than the national averages of $4,957 and $5,148 a month. Both home care and home health care in Illinois cost $5,339, which is less than the $5,529 seniors pay for the same care in Michigan. Costs in Ohio average $4,957 for home care and $5,053 for home health. Kentucky has average costs in line with Indiana, at $4,767 a month for both types of care.
Home Care | Home Health Care | |
Indiana | $4,767 | $4,767 |
National | $4,957 | $5,148 |
Illinois | $5,339 | $5,339 |
Ohio | $4,957 | $5,053 |
Michigan | $5,529 | $5,529 |
Kentucky | $4,767 | $4,767 |
Home care is not always the best choice for seniors. Most times, you might have your needs met more affordably and comprehensively with some other living arrangement. Adult day health care, for example, costs an average of $1,733 a month in Indiana, while assisted living facilities average $4,283. Seniors in Indiana can expect to pay an average of $7,270 a month for a semiprivate room in a local nursing care home.
Medicaid pays for needed medical expenses, but the program’s coverage may be limited to only direct clinical expenses. The various non-medical services that go with home care are not generally included in the standard Hoosier Care plan. Fortunately, Indiana operates an Aged and Disabled Waiver that helps Medicaid-eligible seniors get the home care services they need to safely remain in their own homes.
To get waiver services, you must be eligible to participate in Indiana’s Medicaid program and have a doctor sign off on your medical need for home care assistance. As part of your intake process, a program worker will assess your needs and determine whether you can get all of your care needs met at home, without needing residential care in a nursing home or other level of senior care.
Aged and Disabled Waiver
The Aged and Disabled Waiver can help you connect with a variety of necessary home care services. This most often includes in-home caregiver support and limited home modification services. Caregivers can support your needs by helping with activities of daily living, which include personal care, meal prep and some light housekeeping. Caregivers can also help with some transportation services.
Home modifications that are available under the program umbrella must be directly related to your physical limitations and be prescribed by a doctor. Respite care is also available under an Aged and Disabled Waiver.
To get signed up for an Aged and Disabled Waiver, you must be:
You can apply for an Aged and Disabled Waiver through your local Area Agency on Aging online or in person. You must also sign up for Medicaid, which can be done online through the state benefits portal. When you submit your applications, you will be asked to provide documentation of your income, assets and medical needs, and you may have to schedule a home visit from a waiver intake worker.
Medicaid helps low-income seniors in Indiana get the medical services they need for little or no cost. In order to be eligible to participate, you have to meet the program’s income and asset limits. In 2022, a single adult who applies for Medicaid can earn a maximum of $30,276 a year and carry no more than $2,000 in countable assets.
Countable assets do not include the house you live in or plan to return to, a single car, furniture, private possessions and jewelry or other limited items of value. Assets considered countable include cash on hand or in a bank, investments, property and other large stores of value.
Married couples applying for Medicaid together can earn up to $60,552 a year and have up to $3,000 in countable assets. If you are married, but only one spouse is applying for Medicaid, the applicant spouse can earn up to $30,276 a year and have $2,000 or less in assets, while the non-applicant spouse can have $137,400 in assets.
Income Limits* | Asset Limits | |
Single Person | $30,276 | $2,000 |
Two-Person Household | $60,552 | $3,000 |
Two-Person Households With One Applicant | $30,276 for applicant | $2,000 for applicant/$137,400 for non-applicant spouse |
* per year
In addition to the financial specifications, you must also meet these requirements to be approved for Medicaid:
To apply for Medicaid coverage in Indiana, visit the state’s online application hub and sign up for an account. Once you log in for the first time, you can fill out a digital application for medical coverage and other benefits, such as SNAP. You can apply over the phone by calling (800) 403-0864. Paper applications can be submitted to a local DFR office.
What Information You Will Need
The workers who process your application for Medicaid have to verify all the information you include in your form, so it’s important to have the supporting documentation ready when you apply. Before your application can be approved, you will need to show:
How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid
Applying for Medicaid can be a difficult and involved process. To help you make sense of it, reach out to one of the many nonprofit organizations that exist to help streamline applications. These resources can be especially helpful for seniors in Indiana.
Contact | Area Served | Services Provided | |
Senior Law Project | (800) 869-0212 | Entire State | The Indiana state Senior Law Project helps aging citizens in the state with several senior-specific legal issues. Topics you can ask about with a no-cost professional consultation include Medicaid and Medicare applications and appeals processes, estate planning and living wills. The project can also provide you with referrals to other lawyers if you need more help. |
Indiana Department of Insurance | (800) 622-4461 | Entire State | Unlike many states, Indiana doesn’t operate a Medicaid helpline for you to call. Several nonprofits offer their assistance, however, and you can still get your questions answered by a knowledgeable and discreet worker through the Department of Insurance. The Indiana Department of Insurance tracks health issues that affect seniors, gives advice about signing up for coverage and reports on suspected fraud and abuse cases. |
Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) | (800) 622-4484 | Entire State | You may get advice and sign-up assistance with your Aged and Disabled waiver through the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS). |
Medicare doesn’t pay for non-medical home care, but it can cover the cost of the medical version of home care, called “Home Healthcare” in some situations. In order to be eligible, you need to be homebound and have a referral from your doctor for the specific type of medical care that is needed. There are also other restrictions that apply.
Below is an overview of some of the services typically covered by Medicare for those who are eligible:
As mentioned above, home care is distinctly different from home healthcare, but there is some overlap – so while Medicare doesn’t cover non-medical home care, there are personal care services that may be covered in special circumstances – such as an occupational therapist helping with eating or dressing.
Read our guide to Medicare and Home Care Coverage for more information.
While the above programs can be a great way to make home care affordable for many people, they are not the right solution for everyone. Thankfully, there are other ways to make home care more affordable for you and your family. For more information about your other options, read our section on Other Ways to Pay for this guide.
With enough support, you can stay comfortably in your own home and age in place. The bump you get from even a little professional advice and help from a supportive area community can help you avoid transfer into a nursing home and keep you active and independent for years to come. Below is a table of free resources you can appeal to for help with various non-medical issues.
Contact | Area Served | Services Provided | |
Aging and Disability Resource Center | (219) 794-1829 | Entire State | Indiana’s ADRC centers provide senior care training and education resources for caregivers, as well as more direct support for seniors themselves. Programs include nutrition support, housing assistance, limited transportation, durable medical equipment, home health care, caregiver support services and government benefit programs you may be eligible for. |
National Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging (NRCNA) | (317) 233-1325 | Entire State | NRCNA offers education and community support for seniors and their families, friends and caregivers. Training is specific to seniors’ nutrition needs, but some other topics are covered in the center’s free online classes on senior care. |
Indiana Treasurer | (800) 457-8283 | Entire State | The Indiana Treasurer of State tracks financial issues around the state and issues regular reports to the public. It can process and disburse your overpaid taxes, any state-level grants you qualify for and take reports on fraud, waste and abuse. The office also helps with any unclaimed property you might not even know existed. |
Family and Social Services Administration | (800) 403-0864 | Entire State | Indiana’s FSSA provides direct nutritional support for seniors aged 60 and over through at-home meal deliveries. Through a statewide network of senior centers, the administration also serves congregate meals in comfortable and welcoming community settings. The Ombudsman’s office can also take consumer complaints about elder abuse or other problematic issues via phone. |
Weatherization Assistance Program | (800) 457-8283 | Entire State | The Weatherization Assistance Program makes your home safer and more efficient with energy audits, professional advice about cutting your home heating and cooling costs and minor home improvements. HVAC workers with the program can inspect and clean your HVAC system and check it for leaks at no cost to you. The program can also help you pay for insulation upgrades and other costs. |
Home health workers and institutional employees with access to senior residents are required to get and stay fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if they work with patients covered by Medicare or Medicaid. This is based on a federal rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Supreme Court has heard a challenge to this rule and upheld the requirement for all Medicare and Medicaid participant institutions. At the state level, Indiana doesn’t have any vaccination-related mandates for home care or home health care workers employed by agencies that operate outside of Medicare and Medicaid.
These rules are current as of May 2022, but the situation is always changing. Check with your local Area Agency on Aging if you’re concerned about having an aide enter your home. The home care agency you’re working with may also have its own policies related to COVID-19, so check with your local agency for a complete list of rules.
Home health agencies are regulated by the Indiana Department of Health. Regulations governing the conduct of licensed facilities are outlined in Article 17 of the state’s health and safety code. Department inspectors monitor compliance among state facilities to ensure minimum standards are being upheld and that seniors are safe and adequately cared for.
What Types of Care Can Be Provided? | Home care in Indiana includes services such as personal care, companion services and household chores. Personal care includes help with activities of daily living, such as assistance with bathing, grooming, getting dressed, using the bathroom and performing other routine activities. Home care is not to be confused with home health care, which has to be performed by a licensed medical professional. |
Are Care Plans Required? | The state of Indiana requires home care providers to create care plans for their clients in coordination with medical professionals, family members and other involved parties. |
Can Home Care Providers Assist with Medication Management? | Home care providers are permitted to assist seniors with self-administered medications, but they are not permitted to administer the medications themselves. |
Are There Special Requirements for Screening Home Care Aides? | Home care workers in Indiana must undergo a background check and show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a religious exemption for the vaccine. Administrators who work for home care agencies must likewise pass a background check. |
Are Home Care Aides Required to Undergo Special Training? | Home care workers in Indiana must acquire at least 8 hours of formal instruction and pass a competency test before having unsupervised contact with clients. Subsequent years require certification of at least 12 hours of continuing education. Recertification may be conducted by the agency itself unless its status is probationary. Home care aides’ training must include communication skills, recording vital signs, basic infection prevention procedures and other relevant topics. |
Does Medicaid Cover Home Care in Texas? | Indiana Medicaid doesn’t directly cover home care, but the Aged and Disabled waiver covers personal care and other supports designed to help seniors age in place. |
How Do I Report Abuse of Myself or a Loved One? | Contact Adult Protective Services online or by calling (800) 992-6978. |
Whether you are looking for yourself or a loved one, finding a quality home care provider can be a stressful process. To help you overcome this challenge, we’ve created a helpful checklist below that can help guide you through the process of both determining your needs, and finding a home care agency that will be the best fit for you and your family.