I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Plymouth, MA
Plymouth is America’s original hometown, the site of the Mayflower’s landing and one of the earliest settlements in the nation. The modern city is home to 61,500 people, 22% of whom are seniors aged 65 and over. Summers are balmy with average highs in the 80s, while the winters are cold, and the area typically gets a decent amount of snowfall between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day.
You can enjoy activities year-round in Plymouth. Every season offers a senior-friendly community event, such as the annual Run to the Rock, a 5k, 10k or half-marathon that ends at Plymouth Rock and is open to participants of all ages. September also sees the annual PACC Fall Golf Classic, a friendly competition hosted at the Plymouth Country Club that’s open to both casual players and professionals.
Plymouth has a number of green spaces for you to explore that are typically open year-round. Crawley Woodlands Preserve lies just to the west of town, and it offers several hiking paths that are fully accessible for people of all mobility levels.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Plymouth, MA
In Plymouth, home care and home health care services have the same average cost of $5,720 per month, according to Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey, even though home health care also includes limited medical services. The exact amount you pay can vary depending on the specific services and how many hours of assistance you need on a weekly or monthly basis.
Genworth bases its estimates on 44 hours of services per week. You can expect to pay an average of $30 per hour for either type of in-home care services. If you only require 30 hours of assistance per week, for example, the cost would be about $900, or an average of $3,900 per month.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Plymouth’s home care and home health care costs are above midrange compared to rates in other Massachusetts cities. Springfield is considerably less expensive than Plymouth, with both types of home care costing an average of $5,015 per month. In Barnstable Town, located on Cape Cod, you can expect to pay more, at $6,002 for home care and $6,101 for home health care services. Worcester, located close to the center of the state, is also the closest to Plymouth for home care and home health care costs, which average $5,602 and $5,510 per month, respectively.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
The cost of in-home care services compares favorably to other senior care options available in Plymouth. The $5,720 average for both types of care is somewhat less expensive than the $6,100 average cost for assisted living in the area. Nursing home care is more than twice as expensive, with an average rate of $13,383 for a semiprivate room. You can expect to pay the least for adult day care, which provides weekday care services in a group setting at an average cost of $1,782 a month.
Note: Data for Plymouth was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Boston, was used instead
III. How to Find Home Care in Plymouth, MA
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 Plymouth, MA.
Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Plymouth, MA
Town of Plymouth Center for Active Living
What You Should Know
The Town of Plymouth Center for Active Living is the local senior center and offers a variety of resources for older residents of the area. Case manager support is available to help older residents identify and apply for available benefits. Help is available with finding in-home care and supportive services, and meals on wheels deliveries are provided by the center’s volunteer drivers if you meet the program’s criteria. You can visit the center to participate in senior-centric fitness classes, attend legal aid clinics put on by area attorneys, access wellness services such as foot care, blood pressure checks and hearing tests, or get an ID card that gets you a discount on local public transportation.
When you first visit the center, an outreach worker can meet with you and assess your needs at no cost.
Who Is Eligible?
You can access assistance through the senior center if you live in the Plymouth area and are a senior aged 55 or older. Some programs and services offered may have income and asset limits, which staff members can explain when you apply.
How to Get Started
To learn more about services offered through the center, call (508) 830-4230 and speak to a staff member to schedule an appointment.
Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone (SHINE)
What You Should Know
SHINE is a free education and counseling service offered by MassHealth to seniors who need help navigating their health insurance choices, so they can make informed decisions that best meet their coverage needs. The program’s trained counselors provide unbiased information and advice that can help you understand your options for Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Part D prescription drug plans that cover the medications you require and local healthcare discount programs that are available to seniors. SHINE counselors can also help you sign up for free assistance programs that pay various medical costs your insurance doesn’t cover.
Who Is Eligible?
You can get the assistance through the SHINE program if you’re a Massachusetts resident who’s currently receiving or newly eligible for Medicare benefits.
How to Get Started
To learn more about the services offered through the SHINE program, or to schedule an appointment with a counselor in the Plymouth area, call (800) 243-4636.
Old Colony Elder Services
What You Should Know
Old Colony Elder Services supports seniors throughout the Plymouth area with multiple home care and aging-in-place services. Through this nonprofit organization, you can sign up for meals-on-wheels nutritional support, arrange for a daily home visit from volunteer senior companions or get referrals to local senior-oriented services, such as adult protective services and caregiver support.
When you contact OCES, a staff member will conduct a free needs assessment and then help you sign up for programs you qualify for that can allow you to remain living independently.
Who Is Eligible?
You can get help from OCES if you’re a senior living in Plymouth proper or any of the nearby communities in Plymouth County. Seniors who live in their own homes, residential care or who lack permanent housing are all eligible for assistance.
How to Get Started
To learn more about Old Colony Elder Services, call (508) 584-1561 and book an in-person appointment with an intake specialist.
Home Modification Loan Program (HMLP)
What You Should Know
If you own a home in Plymouth, you may be able to get help making needed modifications and upgrades to it through the Home Modification Loan Program. This state program helps income-eligible seniors in Massachusetts make necessary improvements to their living environment to increase safety, livability and comfort. Common improvements covered by this program include the installation of wheelchair ramps, grab bars in likely slip-and-fall locations, widening of access points and other measures to enhance accessibility. Funds may also be used for safety upgrades, roof repairs and other fixes you need to keep your home livable and safe.
When you apply for funds through HMLP, an intake worker assesses your homeownership, need for services and income figures. The program does limit participation based on financial need. After your proposed upgrades are approved, the program arranges for a private loan to be issued on favorable terms to pay for the required work.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible to get an HMLP loan if you own the home you live in, have a verifiable medical need for upgrades or repairs and meet the program’s income and asset limits. You can check your eligibility online or opt to speak with a program specialist to learn whether you qualify, as all work requests have to be approved in advance and no two homes are the same.
How to Get Started
Call (617) 204-3600 to speak with a program specialist at the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Project and begin the HMLP application process.