TABLE OF CONTENTS
According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, you can expect to pay around $6,006 per month for home care in New Hampshire. This rate covers help with daily living and personal care activities, such as bathing, getting dressed, light housekeeping, errands, meal preparation and companionship services. Home health care, which provides skilled nursing for seniors with medical needs, costs $6,197.
At $6,006 per month, New Hampshire is one of the priciest states for home care in the northeast. In Vermont and Massachusetts, monthly rates average $5,720, or nearly $300 less. Massachusetts has prices similar to those in New Hampshire at around $5,911 per month. Connecticut is the region’s cheapest state for home care at $5,243 per month. Compared to New Hampshire’s prices, the national average is $4,957, or $1,049 less.
New Hampshire’s home health care cost is also above the national average, which is $5,148. Prices in Vermont and Maine are $5,720, the same cost as home care. Massachusetts residents pay $5,911, and Connecticut is the cheapest at $5,339.
Home Care | Home Health Care | |
New Hampshire | $6,006 | $6,197 |
National | $4,957 | $5,148 |
Maine | $5,720 | $5,720 |
Vermont | $5,720 | $5,720 |
Massachusetts | $5,911 | $5,911 |
Connecticut | $5,243 | $5,339 |
Aside from home care, you have several options to consider. Assisted living can be a good fit for people who’d prefer to live in a community-based setting or don’t want to worry about maintaining their own homes. It costs $6,053, about $50 more than home care. Adult day care is priced at around $1,842 and provides assistance and supervision during regular business hours. Nursing home care is the most expensive, with a semiprivate room costing approximately $10,950.
In New Hampshire, regular Medicaid pays for services and supports that enable seniors to remain in their homes. It also covers certain clinical services for people with medical needs determined by a physician.
New Hampshire offers two Medicaid programs that cover home care: Choices for Independence and the Personal Care Attendant Services program. You must meet medical and financial requirements to qualify for these programs. The Choices for Independence program can only accommodate a certain number of people per year. If it exceeds this cap, it may place you on a waitlist for services.
Choices for Independence
Choices for Independence provides home care for seniors eligible for Medicaid and medically qualified for a nursing home level of care. The Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services administers this program and offers care options to help prevent unnecessary institutionalization. Services include in-home care, adult medical day care, housekeeping, home-delivered meals, emergency support and respite for family caregivers.
To qualify for Choices for Independence, you will need to:
It can take up to 45 days to determine eligibility for the program. If approved, you’ll choose a case manager who will help you select and manage the services you need.
Personal Care Attendant Services
Personal Care Attendant Services is a medically oriented program that provides care in your home or another non-institutional setting. It’s aimed at seniors and others who have severe physical disabilities. The program helps with your activities of daily living, meals, light household tasks, mobility, medication management, grocery shopping and service animal care.
The New Hampshire Medicaid state plan includes these services. To qualify, you must:
Granite State Independent Living (GSIL) provides this program. To learn more about how to access Personal Care Attendant Services, contact a GSIL office near you.
You must meet financial eligibility requirements for income and assets to qualify for Medicaid. In New Hampshire, the income limit is $10,260 per year ($855/month) for a single person and $15,144 per year ($1,262/month) for a married couple. The asset limit is $1,500 for single people and married couples.
Income Limits* | Asset Limits | |
Single Person | $10,260 | $2,000 |
Two-Person Household | $15,144 | $3,000 |
*Per year
You must also be a:
To get started, visit the NH EASY Gateway to Services website and create an account or sign in to your existing account. Once you’ve signed up, you can complete a Medicaid application online. You can also print and complete a paper application and mail it to your local Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) office or apply at your DHHS office in person.
What Information You Will Need
You will need to provide the following information with your application:
How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid
If you have questions about Medicaid and the application process, the state offers several resources that can help.
Contact | Area Served | Services Provided | |
Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services | (800) 949-0470 | Entire State | The Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services provides information about Medicaid eligibility, benefits and what to expect when you apply. ServiceLink Resource Centers provide help throughout the state. |
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) | (866) 634-9412 | Entire State | SHIP is a health insurance counseling program offered by statewide ServiceLink Resource Centers. It primarily provides information about Medicare but can also assist with Medicaid and other medical insurance types. |
Medicaid Care Management Program | (888) 901-4999 | Entire State | The Medicaid Care Management Program Service Center can answer questions about your eligibility, information you’ll need to apply, the status of your application and more. |
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.
Throughout New Hampshire, you’ll find a variety of programs and resources to help you stay at home for as long as possible. These resources include financial help for low-income residents, home modifications and repairs, free legal aid and more.
Contact | Area Served | Services Provided | |
ServiceLink Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) | (866) 634-9412 | Entire State | The ServiceLink ADRC website has a statewide resource directory available to elderly New Hampshire residents. Visit the site to learn about transportation services, future planning, long-term care options and available veterans assistance. ServiceLink also has local ADRC offices in many cities to get help in person. |
Low & Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief | (603) 230-5920 | Entire State | If you’re a low-to-moderate-income New Hampshire homeowner, you may be eligible to receive a property tax reduction for your primary residence. The exemption reduces your home’s assessed value. To qualify, you must have lived in your residence for at least one year before applying and have an income of less than $37,000 annually ($47,000 for a married couple). Additional exemptions may be available if you’re blind, disabled or a veteran. |
Electric Assistance Program | (603) 271-3670 | Entire State | The New Hampshire Department of Energy provides a discount on electric bills for income-eligible homeowners and renters at risk of utility service interruption or termination. The discount ranges from 8% to 76%, depending on your household income. To qualify, you must receive an electric bill from one of the state’s regulated electric companies (Unitil, Liberty, Eversource or NHEC). |
New Hampshire Legal Assistance | (800) 562-3174 | Entire State | New Hampshire Legal Assistance’s Justice in Aging Project assists seniors with civil problems. You can request help with housing issues, financial concerns, public benefits, utility shut-off and disputes with long-term care providers. The program is open to anyone 60 or older who is isolated, homebound or institutionalized. If you don’t meet these requirements, you may still be eligible if your income is below the maximum allowed for service. |
Home Access Modification | (800) 826-3700 | Entire State | Provided by Granite State Independent Living, this program assists with home accessibility evaluations and modifications for seniors who wish to age in place. Depending on your needs, you may qualify to receive a wheelchair ramp, stairlift, durable medical equipment and safety modifications for your vehicle and bathroom. |
Meals on Wheels | (888) 998-6325 | Entire State | If you suffer from diminished mobility that makes it hard to prepare meals or grocery shop for food, you can get home-delivered meals through this organization. It also serves meals in senior centers and other congregate settings. Other services include transportation, pet food delivery, telephone reassurance, home repair and hospital discharge programs to help reduce readmission. Services vary by provider, so contact your local Meals on Wheels office to learn what’s available to you. |
Weatherization Assistance Program | (603) 271-6359 | Entire State | Weatherization Assistance is a Department of Energy Program administered by Community Action Agencies throughout the state. Low-income households can qualify for home improvements to help reduce their heating and cooling bills. Applicants receive a diagnostic home energy audit to determine whether the building qualifies for weatherization. If accepted, you could get insulation for attics and crawl spaces, air sealing, furnace repair and upgrades to energy-efficient appliances. |
On January 14, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a memo on COVID-19 vaccination compliance for home care agencies and their employees. In New Hampshire, all Medicaid- and/or Medicaid-certified provider workers must be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. This requirement aims to help prevent the virus from spreading to the state’s elderly and most vulnerable residents. If a provider is not Medicaid- and/or Medicare-certified, it doesn’t require its employees to be vaccinated, but providers can still choose to implement their own vaccine mandates.
Note: The rule is current as of April 2022 but may be subject to change in the future. Contact your nearest Area Agency on Aging to learn more about vaccination requirements for workers entering your home.
In New Hampshire, the Bureau of Health Facilities Administration licenses and regulates home care and home health care agencies. It is responsible for enforcing standards aimed at promoting appropriate treatment for seniors in all types of long-term care.
What Types of Care Can Be Provided? | Home care aides can provide hands-on assistance with daily living activities, helping the patient eat meals, transportation, attendant services, meal preparation and general household tasks, such as laundry and cleaning the home to maintain a safe environment. Regular home care doesn’t include skilled nursing services. |
Are Care Plans Required? | For clients receiving personal care services, providers must assess the client and provide an initial care plan within three days of admission or administering services. The plan must include a description of the client’s needs, provided services and the names of personnel responsible for the plan. It should be reviewed every six months and revised according to the client’s current needs. |
Can Home Care Providers Assist with Medication Management? | Home care workers who aren’t authorized to administer medications can assist clients with self-administration of prescribed drugs. This includes placing medication containers within the patient’s reach, opening containers and prompting the patient to take prescriptions at the appropriate time. |
Are There Special Requirements for Screening Home Care Aides? | Home care aides in New Hampshire must undergo a criminal background check and cannot have a violent crime, abuse, neglect, fraud, theft or exploitation conviction. Workers who have direct contact with clients must also receive a tuberculosis screening. |
Are Home Care Aides Required to Undergo Special Training? | Home care aides must undergo a minimum of eight training hours before providing personal care. Aides must also complete annual service training regarding infection control, mandatory reporting requirements, emergency procedures and client rights and responsibilities. |
Does Medicaid Cover Home Care in New Hampshire? | In New Hampshire, Medicaid covers home care via the Choices for Independence Program and the Personal Care Attendant Services Program. |
How Do I Report Abuse of Myself or a Loved One? | To report abuse, contact DHHS at (800) 949-0470. |
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.