Cost is usually the first question families ask, and the hardest one to get a straight answer to. This guide lays out what home care costs nationally, how that compares with other kinds of care, and the main ways Oklahoma families pay for help at home.
What Home Care Costs
The most widely used benchmark is the CareScout Cost of Care Survey. Its 2025 survey puts the national median for a non-medical caregiver at $35 an hour. For comparison, the same survey reports national medians of $6,200 a month for an assisted living community and $9,581 a month for a semi-private room in a nursing home.
Those are national medians, and the survey itself notes that the cost for any particular provider may differ significantly. Rates vary by city and by the kind of care needed. You can look up local figures on the CareScout Cost of Care page.
Why the Monthly Total Depends on Hours
Home care is paid by the hour, so the monthly cost depends on how much help is needed. A few examples at the national median rate:
- 12 hours a week (three 4-hour visits): about $1,820 a month.
- 20 hours a week: about $3,030 a month.
- 44 hours a week: about $6,670 a month.
For someone who needs help part of the day, home care often costs less than moving, and it keeps them in their own home. For someone who needs care around the clock, the numbers look different, and it is worth comparing options carefully.
Ways to Pay for Home Care in Oklahoma
Private pay and long-term care insurance
Most non-medical home care is paid privately. If your loved one has a long-term care insurance policy, read it or call the insurer: many policies cover care at home once certain conditions are met.
Medicare
Medicare covers medical home health care that a doctor orders for a limited time. It does not pay for ongoing non-medical help such as bathing, meals and companionship when that is the only care needed. For more detail, see our guide on how long Medicare pays for home health care.
The Oklahoma ADvantage Waiver
Oklahoma Human Services describes the ADvantage Waiver as an alternative to nursing facility placement for eligible adults. To qualify, a person must be financially qualified for SoonerCare (Medicaid), meet medical level-of-care criteria, and be at least 65, or an adult aged 19 to 64 with a physical or other qualifying disability. Covered services include case management, personal care, home-delivered meals and home modifications.
You can apply online through Oklahoma Human Services or by calling the Medicaid Services Unit at 1-800-435-4711.
VA Aid and Attendance
For veterans and surviving spouses who receive a VA pension, Aid and Attendance adds a monthly payment when the person needs help with daily activities such as bathing, feeding and dressing. Details and application steps are on the VA Aid and Attendance page. See also our guide to veteran home care in Oklahoma City.
How to Get a Real Number
The only way to know what care will cost for your family is to talk through the hours and kind of help needed. We are glad to do that and to explain our rates clearly.
If you would like to talk it through, call Home Care Squad LLC at 405-855-1050 or set an appointment. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Medicare pay for non-medical home care?
Not on its own. Medicare covers doctor-ordered home health care for a limited time, but not ongoing help with daily living when that is the only care needed.
Is home care cheaper than assisted living?
It depends on the hours. Part-time home care usually costs less than the national median for assisted living. Around-the-clock care at home can cost more.
Is there a minimum number of hours?
Call us at 405-855-1050 and we will explain how scheduling works and what would fit your situation.