I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Lanham, MD
Lanham seniors have access to cultural venues, parks, walking trails and a highly regarded NASA Visitors Center. Of the city’s population of more than 11,100 people, 14.2% are aged 65 and up. Many retirees are attracted to its recreational opportunities, including movie theaters, shops, restaurants, museums and libraries. Seniors are close to Washington, D.C.’s national historic sites. Because Maryland is a moderately tax-friendly state, Lanham seniors have more affordably as it does not tax their Social Security income.
Health care’s scope and quality are important to seniors when determining where they’ll retire. Lanham has 132 physicians per capita, while nearby Washington, D.C. has 410 physicians per capita within easy reach. Located in the heart of Lanham, Luminis Health Doctors Medical Center receives excellent scores as a High Performing Hospital in both Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. George Washington University Hospital, 35 minutes from Lanham, runs a Senior Advantage Program that offers older adults free screenings, referrals and discounted services. Lanham is an excellent choice for aging in place, considering the wealth of amenities and health care options. Home care, when needed, is also a prime consideration when desiring to remain living an independent lifestyle.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Lanham, MD
The median costs of home care ($4,957) and home health services ($5,053) in Lanham differ by just $96 per month, according to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey. A person’s actual location can affect the cost of home health care, which is typically somewhat higher than home care services due to the medical services offered.
The survey bases home care’s average cost per month on 44 hours of services per week. This number can differ from the amount you will pay because you may need more or less than 44 hours of care each week. When weighing hourly rates, you can anticipate spending an average of $26.00 for home care and $26.50 for home health care per hour in Lanham.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Home care and home health care prices in Lanham are similar to costs in neighboring towns, with a few exceptions. Care costs in Hagerstown are a bit pricier, with home care prices exceeding Lanham’s by $191 per month and home health care by $95. In Cumberland, seniors pay the same amount for home care services, but home health care costs in Cumberland are $191 less per month. Seniors living in the California Area have less expensive home care costs at $4,576 per month for either type of service.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
In Lanham, home care services are $207 more than an assisted living facility. For home health care, seniors pay $303 more than they would at an assisted living community. Adult day care costs $1,927 per month, which is thousands of dollars less costly than other types of senior care. A semiprivate room in a nursing home can set Lantham seniors back nearly $11,000 per month, more than double the cost of home care or home health care in the area.
Note: Data for Lanham was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Baltimore, was used instead.
III. How to Find Home Care in Lanham, MD
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Lanham, MD.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Lanham, MD
Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP)
What You Should Know
This free, federally funded energy program helps eligible seniors live in more comfortable surroundings by fixing or replacing heating, air-conditioning and water heating systems. If the program determines you to be financially eligible to participate, a local agency will come by to assess your needs. You can then send out a contractor to complete the work.
Who Is Eligible?
You must meet the income limit qualifications to be eligible for MEAP. For instance, a family of two must presently have a maximum annual household income of under $36,620. The program must also assess your home as having a non-functioning HVAC system that needs repair or replacement.
How To Get Started
Contact the Community Development Administration’s Housing and Building Energy Program at the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development at 1-855-583-8976 to express an interest in the MEAP program.
Office of Home Energy Programs
What You Should Know
The Maryland Department of Human Services offers energy bill assistance to low-income seniors to help them meet their gas and electricity needs at home. The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) helps seniors having difficulty meeting their electric bills by paying a portion of them. The Arrearage Retirement Assistance program helps older adults with high, past-due gas and electric bills. The program only awards this once every five years, if eligible.
Weatherization and Energy Efficient Services programs help lower utility bills at no charge by making home improvements to save energy. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) helps people having trouble paying their water bills, including drinking water and wastewater.
Who Is Eligible?
The program determines eligibility through your local utility company using specific monthly income eligibility limits. The Arrearage Retirement Assistance program can help customers with past-due bills of $300 or more. Eligibility for the Weatherization program includes household income limits and proof of home ownership. Renters must have their landlords agree to participate in the program.
The LIHWAP requires applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal noncitizens and Maryland residents responsible for paying water bills and living at the property in question. A current water bill must show past-due amounts of at least $100. The monthly household income has eligibility limits.
How To Get Started
Apply for any of the above home energy assistance programs online through the Maryland Office of Home Energy Programs. You can also obtain paper applications by calling 1-800-332-6347 and then submitting them at your local office’s dropbox or mail them to your Energy Assistance office.
Gwendolyn Britt Senior Activity Center
What You Should Know
This welcoming senior center is very close to Lanham, in nearby North Brentwood. The center offers weekly planned activities that include clubs, classes, educational programs, trips and special events. It provides health seminars and screenings. You can also purchase a low-cost lunch at the center via the county’s nutrition services program.
A computer center is available to help seniors browse the web or email family and friends. The building also houses a fitness room, dining area, game room and multipurpose room.
Who Is Eligible?
Seniors who are 60 years old and up can participate in the senior activity center’s programs.
How To Get Started
You can call the Gwendolyn Britt Senior Activity Center at 301-699-1238 or come in person to 4009 Wallace Road in North Brentwood.
Senior Transportation Services
What You Should Know
The Senior Transportation Service (STS) provides curb-to-curb transportation to seniors throughout Prince George’s County via different programs. The Nutrition Program offers free rides to seniors who wish to attend a nutrition site for lunch and social activities at a nearby senior center. The program can also deliver meals to homebound seniors who can’t travel.
The Medical Program provides seniors with free transportation to medical appointments and ongoing therapies or treatments within the county. General transportation to senior activity centers, shopping and other recreational destinations within the county are also available.
Who Is Eligible?
Adults who are 60 years old and up, with their accompanying spouse of any age, can participate in any of these STS programs.
How To Get Started
Seniors interested in the nutrition program can call 301-699-2696 to get more information or enroll. For medical transportation, call 301-499-8603 up to a week in advance of your medical appointment. You can request regularly scheduled, ongoing transportation, such as for dialysis, in writing and send it to the transportation office in Largo. For general transportation needs, call 301-883-5656.
Village Connector Experience
What You Should Know
This free service helps seniors who feel lonely and isolated by regularly connecting them with trained volunteers by phone one to three times a week. The friendly calls reassure older adults that someone remembers them with calls, birthday wishes or just a few words to brighten the day with conversation. The program also might hold virtual coffee groups, short story readings or send surprise cards and packages through the mail.
Who Is Eligible?
The program is open to adults aged 50 and older.
How To Get Started
Seniors can register to participate via the online application or by calling 301-325-8850.