I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Metairie, LA
Metairie is a community in the New Orleans metro with an array of shopping and dining options, recreational amenities and long-term care options. A fifth of the city’s 144,000 residents are aged 65 and over, supporting funding for amenities such as the senior center and community-based in-home care services. Two hospitals, Tulane Lakeside Hospital and East Jefferson General Hospital, are located within the city, and there are numerous more in nearby New Orleans, providing high access to medical services. There are approximately 306 doctors per capita, about 50% more than the national median, and health care costs are 13% below the national norm despite the city’s comparatively high cost of living.
Metairie has a warm climate with 220 sunny days annually and virtually no snowfall, making it ideal for those who enjoy being outdoors. Jefferson Parish Transit provides on-demand, curb-to-curb transportation for Metairie residents, making it easy for you to keep medical appointments and complete errands. The city also has numerous agencies that provide home care services, making it a viable option for older adults who want to age in place.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Metairie, LA
Based on care costs in nearby New Orleans, the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey estimates home care rates in Metairie at $4,195. Home health care is reported to have the same monthly rate despite including skilled nursing services along with personal care, but some agencies may charge higher rates for this level of care. This equals $22 per hour for 44 hours of weekly care.
Local care costs offer monthly savings of hundreds of dollars over the national averages of $4,957 for home care and $5,148 for home health care. However, Louisiana’s home care and home health care costs come in well below Metairie’s norms at $3,623 and $3,718, respectively.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Metairie is the most expensive place in Louisiana to obtain home care, with fees averaging $4,195 for both levels of services. In Lake Charles, rates are a couple hundred dollars at $3,909, and in Houma, residents pay $3,813 for home care and home health care, nearly $400 less than in Metairie. In Alexandria, rates are among the cheapest in the state at $3,527 for a monthly savings of nearly $670 over rates in Metairie.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
In Metairie, you can expect to pay about $4,195 per month for home care and home health care. By opting for assisted living, which costs $3,973 monthly, you save about $220 but don’t have the same level of privacy and one-on-one care. You may be able to reduce what you pay for in-home care by supplementing it with adult day care, which costs $1,408 monthly. Home care costs about $1,740 less than nursing home care, which averages $5,931.
III. How to Find Home Care in Metairie, LA
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 Metairie, LA.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Metairie, LA
Jefferson Council on Aging
What You Should Know
The Jefferson Council on Aging provides advocacy and assistance to older adults in Jefferson Parish, including those living in Metairie. Through this nonprofit organization, you can access home-delivered and congregate meals every weekday and find senior centers in the region where you can participate in social and recreational activities. The organization has a fixed route transportation service with a fleet of 10 ADA-accessible vehicles, helping you attend errands and appointments within the parish, and it provides home care services through the Homemaker Program and the In-Home Respite Care Program, which may provide an affordable alternative to private-pay care.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for services through the Council on Aging, you must be at least 60 years old and live within Metairie or Jefferson Parish. Some programs have income- or need-based eligibility guidelines.
How to Get Started
To learn more about these services, you can call the main office at (504) 888-5880 or toll-free at (800) 635-1437. You can also apply for services online.
Capital Area Agency on Aging
What You Should Know
The Capital Area Agency on Aging is a regional nonprofit organization that uses federal funding to serve those aged 60 and over in the Metairie region. It operates the Aging & Disability Resource Center, which serves as a single contact point for information on programs and services available through community providers as well as state and federal benefits. It provides caregiver respite services to supplement the care you get from family caregivers, reducing your reliance on private-pay home care services, and it has a legal department that can help you apply for programs such as Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. The agency can also help you find affordable prescription drug coverage through SenioRX, and it operates wellness programs to help you maintain the level of functioning you need to remain in your own home.
Who Is Eligible?
Everyone aged 60 and over in Metairie can contact the AAA for information and referrals on programs and services in the community and to participate in wellness and recreational programs. Some programs, such as SenioRX and in-home care, may have additional eligibility requirements.
How to Get Started
You can contact the AAA by calling the main office at (225) 922-2525 or toll-free at (800) 833-9883. You can also subscribe to the newsletter to get updates on the programs available through this agency.
Jefferson Community Action Programs
What You Should Know
The Jefferson Community Action Programs include supportive programs and services for those in the Metairie region and can help older adults with limited resources to remain in their homes. Through this nonprofit organization, you can enroll in LIHEAP, which provides utility bill assistance to help you avoid shutoffs, particularly during the hottest months. The organization also operates community centers throughout the region where you can find services such as volunteer-based income tax preparation services, prescription drug assistance, emergency food assistance, senior services and the Cox Cable Senior Discount program.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility requirements vary by program but may include guidelines regarding your age, functional abilities or assets.
How to Get Started
You can learn more about the programs available through the Community Action Program by calling the office at (504) 736-6900 or emailing [email protected].
Senior Citizens Special Assessment Level Homestead Exemption
What You Should Know
The Senior Citizens Special Assessment Level Homestead Exemption freezes the assessed value of your home to ensure that even if it increases in value over the years, your property tax doesn’t increase significantly. It’s important to note that the tax rate, which is set by the state, may change, impacting your bill. However, because your home’s value won’t increase for tax purposes, it may be financially feasible for you to maintain ownership of it on a fixed income.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the exemption, you must be at least 65 years old by the end of the year you’re applying for, and you must meet the state’s income limit, which changes annually. You also must live within Jefferson Parish.
How to Get Started
You can get more information on qualifying and applying for the exemption, including specifics on the current year’s annual income limits, by calling the Assessor’s Office at (504) 362-4100. Once you’ve applied for the exemption, it’s permanent for as long as you own the home and you don’t complete any reconstructions or renovations that increase its value by more than 25%.
Louisiana 211
What You Should Know
Finding resources in the community that can help you remain in your home can be difficult, but fortunately, Louisiana 211 provides a single point of access to all local, state and federal programs and services. This nonprofit program, which is a service of United Way, is operated by trained advisors who listen to your needs and make recommendations and referrals. Through this service, you can find volunteer-based transportation services, in-home care, companionship, friendly visitor programs, utility bill assistance, home-delivered meals and health and screening services. All services are free and confidential.
Who Is Eligible?
Information and referrals through 211 are available to everyone who lives in Louisiana, regardless of age or income. You may have to meet other eligibility criteria to qualify for programs you find through this service.
How to Get Started
To speak with an advisor, dial 211 from any phone or email the organization at [email protected].