Home Care in Oregon

According to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, Oregon seniors can expect to pay a monthly average of $6,006 for in-home care and $6,101 for home health services. In-home care providers typically offer assistance with household chores and daily living activities, while home health care professionals provide medical services that only licensed medical professionals can perform. Examples of home health care services include wound care, administration of intravenous medications and speech therapy.

In Oregon, the $6,006 and $6,101 monthly cost of in-home care and home health care is much higher than the national average of $4,957 and $5,148, respectively. However, when compared with nearby states, Oregon is in the middle of the pack. With average monthly costs of $6,547 for in-home care and $6,578 for home health care, Washington is the most expensive, followed by California, which has average monthly expenses of $6,101 for both care types. In Idaho, both care types cost an average of $5,434 per month. Nevada has the lowest costs, averaging $5,148 for care types.

Home care is one of Oregon’s most expensive senior care options, but it can help older adults stay in their homes instead of moving to residential facilities. In-home care and home health care are both more affordable than nursing home care, which costs an average of $10,342 per month. Assisted living and adult day care are less expensive than home care, with costs averaging $5,045 per month for assisted living and $2,654 for adult day care.

Oregon Medicaid, known as the Oregon Health Plan, covers home care for eligible enrollees. Some participants receive short-term services to help them recover from an acute illness or injury, while others receive long-term support to assist them with remaining as independent as possible. Services covered by traditional Medicaid are somewhat limited, but Oregon does have three Medicaid waiver programs, expanding access to in-home care and home health care for those who need it.

K Plan

Oregon’s K Plan covers home- and community-based services, giving eligible enrollees access to care to help them stay in their homes without risking their health and safety. The K Plan covers personal attendant care, behavioral services and supports, respite care, home-delivered meals, home modifications and assistive technology.

To qualify for K Plan services, an applicant must meet the requirements for traditional Medicaid and demonstrate that they need an institutional care level. An applicant requires an institutional care level if an assessment indicates they have a significant impairment in at least one adaptive behavior area. This may include motor skills, learning, cognition or expressive language. To request an assessment, contact your local Seniors & People with Disabilities office.

Oregon Project Independence

Oregon Project Independence is a state-funded program covering the services enrollees need to stay healthy and independent. Participants pay part of each service cost on a sliding scale, which sets fees based on an individual’s income and household size. Depending on an individual’s needs, the program may cover transportation, meal preparation and help with bathing, dressing and other activities.

To qualify for Oregon Project Independence, an applicant must be at least 60 years old, reside in Oregon, need help with daily living activities and be ineligible for full Medicaid coverage. Contact the Aging and Disability Resource Connection at (866) 206-4799 for more information on the eligibility and application requirements.

Medicaid intends its coverage for low-income individuals, so applicants must meet certain financial eligibility requirements to qualify. For 2022, the income limit is $10,092 per year for one person and $15,132 per year for a two-person household. Medicaid also limits countable resources, which are assets that can be sold and used as an income source. In Oregon, the asset limit is $2,000 for one person and $3,000 for a two-person household.

To apply for Oregon Health Plan online, use the Oregon Eligibility (ONE) system. If you prefer to fill out a paper application, call (800) 699-9075 to have one sent to your address. You can also download an Oregon Health Plan application online. Send the completed application to:

OHP Customer Service
P.O. Box 14015
Salem, OR 97309-5032

What Information You Will Need

Medicaid requires certain documents to verify your identity and income. This information includes:

• Proof of citizenship
• Proof of residency
• Bank and investment account statements
• Insurance policy numbers
• Employer-paid income, such as W-2s and tax returns

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid

The Oregon Medicaid application asks many questions about your household composition, income and assets. With so many questions to answer, it can be a little overwhelming to complete the application process on your own. Fortunately, Oregon has several resources to help residents apply for Medicaid.

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.

With Medicaid-approved home care services and help from other organizations, many seniors can stay in their communities instead of moving to institutional settings. If you need support, reach out to one of the following resources.

In January 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health care workers. According to this rule, all Oregon home health agencies that accept Medicare and Medicaid required full COVID-19 vaccination of their staff members by February 28, 2022. The mandate doesn’t apply to home care workers working for agencies that don’t accept Medicare or Medicaid.

The vaccine requirements are current as of April 2022, but CMS may issue new guidance at any time. For the most up-to-date requirements, contact a local Area Agency on Aging. It’s also important to note that CMS allows home care agencies to set more stringent rules than the ones imposed by CMS. If you have questions about vaccination or personal protection equipment (PPE) requirements, contact your local agency for more information.

The Oregon Health Authority is responsible for regulating home care agencies in Oregon. It outlines all relevant regulations in Chapter 333 of the Oregon Administrative Rules.

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.

Download PDF Here

Learn More About Home Care in Oregon’s Top Cities

• Eugene
• Medford
• Portland
• Salem