Home Care in Maine

There are two primary forms of care available for seniors who need assistance but wish to avoid being placed in an assisted living facility or nursing home. In-home care is non-medical care focused on helping with tasks such as personal grooming, household chores, transportation, meal preparation and medication routines. Home health care services require the supervision of medical professionals such as a doctor, registered nurse or nurse practitioner and may include skilled nursing care.

According to the latest data from the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, in-home care and home health care cost $5,720 monthly in Maine. Costs may vary based on the level of care you need, how many hours per day you need assistance and where you reside within the state.

Home health care services in the Northeast are considerably more expensive than the national average. While care in Maine costs almost $700 per month more than the national average of $4,957, it’s one of the least expensive states for care in the region. Home health care costs $6,197 in New Hampshire and $5,911 in Massachusetts, while costs in Vermont are about the same. Only New York offers cheaper care at $5,529 per month. Nationally and in each state, in-home care costs the same or slightly less than home health care.

When deciding whether to age in place at home or seek care in a residential senior living facility, it’s a good idea to compare costs. Home care is comparable to assisted living, but saves seniors around $145 per month. Adult day care is the least expensive option at $2,600. Seniors can be with peers in a supervised day program while getting the assistance they need with personal care as well as light medical support. For those who need more medical care than a home health nurse can provide a few hours a day, nursing  home care is an option, but costs about $4,700 more than home health care each month.

Medicaid can reduce your cost of care by covering medical expenses, but it doesn’t pay for non-medical services that in-home care companies usually provide. The good news is that waivers are available to cover the cost of home care, including HCBS waivers, the Consumer Directed Attendant Services Waiver and coverage for personal care via the Family Provider Service Option.

To be eligible for the following waivers, you must qualify for Medicaid Maine. These waivers provide residents more control over how they choose to receive care and the option of selecting their care providers. Caregivers may benefit from waivers if they’re named as personal care providers.

There are income and asset restrictions you must consider before applying for Medicaid in Maine. To be approved, your income must fall under these limits, and your total sellable assets can’t exceed the allowance. You must also meet additional criteria to be eligible. A single applicant must make less than $30,276 per year and can’t have assets worth more than $10,000. For two people, this increases to $60,552 and $15,000. If only one person is applying for Medicaid, the spouse may hold up to $137,400 in assets.

Medicaid in Maine is called MaineCare, and you can apply online, mail your application or visit the Department of Health and Human Services to apply in person. You can also email your application to [email protected]. Mailed applications can be sent to:

Office for Family Independence
114 Corn Shop Lane
Farmington, ME 04938

What Information You Will Need

• Identification such as a state-issued ID, driver’s license, passport or green card
• Proof of residency
• Proof of birth
• Bank statements to prove assets and income
• Social Security and retirement information

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid

It’s important to fill out your application correctly to prevent delays in receiving your benefits, but the application may be confusing for some people. If you need assistance applying for Medicaid, several places offer help.

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:

• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is used to help patients recover from injuries (broken bones, knee injuries, etc.), and to treat ongoing conditions such as arthritis. Additionally, physical therapy is often provided in the home to help seniors recover from surgeries and procedures, such as a knee or hip replacement.
• Nursing Care: Licensed nurses can provide a number of medical services (such as wound care, changing feeding tubes, etc.) for those who need medical care, but don’t need to stay in a hospital full-time.
• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy is designed to help seniors regain or maintain the ability to accomplish normal, daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, eating, etc., and providers can travel to your home if needed.
• Speech Therapy: Seniors can lose the ability to adequately communicate for many reasons, and speech therapists are there to help seniors regain the ability to communicate using a variety of means. Additionally, speech therapists help to keep seniors independent by modifying diets and teaching special techniques to swallow safely.

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.

The choice to age in place helps preserve your independence and keep you connected with your community. There are local and state resources available to help you, and many of these programs are offered free of charge or affordably priced so you can access them on a limited budget or fixed income.

The federal government and individual states are constantly updating vaccine requirements and mandates, so it’s important to check with your local authorities for the latest information. Maine currently requires health care workers to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and other transmissible diseases and to take measures to prevent the spread of the virus. Many home care agencies have their own policies in place that may exceed state requirements.

Measures may include the use of masks and personal protective equipment when interacting with patients. It’s okay to ask your agency directly what actions they’re taking to protect you and your loved ones.

The Department of Health and Human Services enforces regulations for home care in the state of Maine. These rules control how in-home care agencies and home health organizations may operate.

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.

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