Home Care in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, seniors can expect to pay an average of $5,720 per month for in-home care and $5,958 per month for home health care, according to the 2021 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. In-home care refers to non-medical services, such as grocery shopping, meal preparation and personal care, while home health care refers to medically necessary services provided by a licensed professional. Examples of home health services include speech therapy, wound care and nutrition therapy.

Although Rhode Island has home care costs that are much higher than the national average, it’s more affordable than two of three nearby states. New Hampshire has the highest prices, averaging $6,006 per month for in-home care and $6,197 per month for home health care. Massachusetts also has higher costs than Rhode Island, with both care types costing an average of $5,911 per month. Only Connecticut has lower fees than Rhode Island, with average monthly costs of $5,243 for in-home care and $5,339 for home health care.

Home care is one of the most affordable care options for Rhode Island seniors. Nursing home care costs an average of $9,429 per month, while assisted living costs an average of $6,826 per month. The other nonresidential option is adult day care, which has an average cost of $1,798 per month.

Rhode Island Medicaid covers home care as part of its Long-Term Services and Supports program, which pays for services to help enrollees stay in their homes or other community settings. Depending on the enrollee’s needs, Medicaid may pay for self-directed home care, adult day care and other supports. Rhode Island also has two waiver programs, giving eligible enrollees access to additional services.

Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver

Rhode Island merged its previous Medicaid waivers into one program called the Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver, which covers home care services, home modifications, home-delivered meals, personal care, skilled nursing and other services to help seniors avoid moving to long-term care settings.

The Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver is available to Rhode Island residents who are at least 65 years old and require a nursing home care level. Some younger adults may qualify if they have certain physical disabilities. Each participant must also undergo an assessment to determine their function level and need for home- and community-based services. This assessment helps determine which services the waiver will cover.

Rhode Island has higher income limits for the Global Consumer Choice Compact Waiver than it does for traditional Medicaid, making home care more accessible to seniors. As of 2022, individual applicants may earn no more than $30,276 per year. The income limit increases to $60,552 per year for married couples ($30,276 per spouse). Single applicants are allowed to have up to $4,000 worth of countable resources. For a married couple, the resource limit is $8,000 to $4,000 per spouse — if both spouses need Medicaid coverage. If only one spouse is applying for coverage, the limit is $4,000 for the applicant and $137,400 for the non-applicant spouse.

To request an assessment, call (401) 462-3000 to speak with a representative from the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs.

RIte @ Home

RIte @ Home is for Rhode Island residents unable to live alone without assistance. It matches eligible participants with community caregivers, such as friends and neighbors, who are willing to receive the training necessary to assist with daily living activities. Caregivers are responsible for personal care, meals, chore services, transportation and on-call support for RIte @ Home participants.

A senior may qualify for RIte @ Home if all of the following apply:

• They’re not a danger to themselves or others.
• They’re capable of taking action for self-preservation in an emergency.
• Eligible seniors need assistance from no more than one person to exit the home during a fire, medical emergency or natural disaster.
• They’re free of infectious conditions.
• They understand the risk of entering this type of living arrangement.

For more information about RIte @ Home, contact the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services at (855) 697-4347.

Medicaid bases eligibility on financial need, so applicants must have limited income and assets. The income limit for 2022 is $13,596 per year for a one-person household and $18,312 for a two-person household. Rhode Island has slightly higher asset limits than many other states — $4,000 for individuals and $6,000 for married couples.

To apply online, visit HealthSource RI to create an account and submit the required forms. You can also download the Application for Assistance and return it to the Department of Human Services (DHS). Consult the DHS website for a list of local offices.

What Information You Will Need

Before you work on your application, gather the following information:

• Financial records to prove how much income you earn and how much money you have in your bank accounts
• Your driver’s license or a recent utility bill for proof of residency
• Immigration paperwork, if applicable
• Proof of identity, such as a passport or Rhode Island photo ID card
• Documents to help determine your assets’ values, such as appraisal forms or investment account statements

How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid

It’s important to provide a correct, complete application to prevent frustrating process delays. If you need help answering the questions or determining if you meet the eligibility requirements, reach out to one of these resources.

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.

Aging in place allows seniors to maintain their independence and stay connected to their communities, but it can be difficult to do without a little support. The resources below can help.

With limited exceptions, all home health care providers must receive full vaccination against the virus that causes COVID-19. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) outlines this requirement in its final vaccination rule issued on January 28, 2022. It does not bind in-home care providers to this rule.

These guidelines are accurate as of April 2022, but they may change at any time. Public health officials are monitoring the situation closely, so contact your local Area Agency on Aging if you have any concerns about the vaccination requirements for home health workers. Even if they’re not required to follow the CMS rule, Rhode Island home care agencies are allowed to implement vaccine requirements for their employees. They may also mandate workers to wear masks, face shields or other personal protection. To find out more, contact your home care provider.

The Rhode Island Department of Health is responsible for licensing and regulating the state’s home health agencies.

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 Rhode Island’s Top Cities

• Providence