A practical guide to home care costs, Medicaid, Senior Options, VA benefits, insurance, and private pay
| QUICK ANSWER
· Ohio’s 2025 median cost for non-medical caregiver home care was $77,792 per year—about $6,483 per month or roughly $34 per hour using CareScout’s 44-hour-per-week benchmark. · Franklin County families may also have access to Ohio Medicaid’s PASSPORT program and Franklin County Senior Options, depending on eligibility.· Long-term care insurance and VA Aid & Attendance can provide additional sources of funding for qualifying individuals. · Medicare generally does not pay for ongoing custodial or personal care when that is the only care a person needs. |
How Much Does In-Home Care Cost in Columbus, Ohio?
For families paying privately, the cost of non-medical home care in Columbus and Franklin County depends on the agency, services provided, number of hours, scheduling requirements, and level of support needed. The most current statewide benchmark from CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey puts Ohio’s median annual cost for non-medical caregiver care at $77,792. CareScout calculates that figure using a 44-hour-per-week schedule, which works out to approximately $34 per hour.
Because CareScout reports median costs at the state and metropolitan-area level rather than publishing a single Franklin County agency rate, families should use the figure as a planning benchmark, not as a guaranteed local price or service quote.
What Does That Mean for a Family’s Budget?
| Care schedule | At ~$34/hour | Approx. monthly cost |
| 20 hours/week | $680 | $2,944 |
| 30 hours/week | $1,020 | $4,417 |
| 44 hours/week | $1,496 | $6,483 |
These calculations use approximately $34 per hour and a 4.33-week average month. Actual agency rates, minimum visit requirements, overtime policies, and care needs can change the total substantially.
6 Ways Families Pay for In-Home Care in Franklin County
1. Private Pay (Out of Pocket)
Private pay means the senior or family pays directly for home-care services using personal income, savings, retirement funds, or other resources.
For many families, private pay is the most straightforward option because it does not require Medicaid financial eligibility.
Private-pay home care can include companionship, personal care, bathing and grooming assistance, dressing assistance, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, transportation, and respite care.
One advantage of private pay is flexibility. Families can often choose the number of hours of care they need and adjust the schedule as needs change.
2. Ohio Medicaid PASSPORT
Ohio’s PASSPORT program is a Medicaid home- and community-based services program for eligible adults age 60 and older. It is designed to help qualifying older adults receive support in the community rather than relying solely on institutional care.
Depending on eligibility and the individual’s care plan, services may include personal care, homemaker services, home-delivered meals, transportation, emergency response systems, adult day services, and case management.
To qualify, an individual generally must be age 60 or older, financially eligible for long-term-care Medicaid, have qualifying functional needs that meet a nursing-facility level of care, and be able to remain safely at home with the approval of a primary care provider.
For 2026, federal Medicaid guidance lists an individual SSI resource standard of $2,000 and a 300% SSI income cap of $2,982 per month for programs using that standard. Medicaid eligibility is complex, and individual circumstances can affect how income and assets are treated. Families should confirm eligibility rather than relying on a general threshold.
3. Franklin County Senior Options
Franklin County Senior Options is an important local resource for older adults who need help remaining independent at home. The program is funded through the Franklin County Senior Services Levy and administered by the Franklin County Office on Aging, with Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging staff providing enrollment and case management.
Eligible residents generally must be 60 or older, live in Franklin County, and have a demonstrated unmet need for services. Services can include homemaker assistance, personal care, home-delivered meals, transportation, emergency response systems, adult day services, incontinence supplies, nutritional supplements, and durable medical equipment. Services are provided on a sliding fee scale, and applicants must provide financial verification.
To learn more, call Franklin County Senior Options at (614) 525-6200 or the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at (614) 645-7250.
4. Long-Term Care Insurance
A long-term care insurance policy may pay toward eligible in-home care, depending on the policy’s terms. Families should review the policy for the daily or monthly benefit, elimination or waiting period, covered services, caregiver requirements, and any requirement to use a licensed or approved provider.
Ohio also participates in the Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program. Qualifying partnership policies can provide additional Medicaid asset protection. Because policy language varies, families should confirm coverage directly with the insurer and, when appropriate, a qualified insurance or elder-law professional.
5. VA Aid & Attendance
Veterans and certain surviving spouses may qualify for VA Aid & Attendance, an enhanced pension benefit for people who meet specific service, financial, and care-need requirements.
For the current 2026 benefit year, the maximum annual pension rate for a qualifying veteran with no dependents who receives Aid & Attendance is $29,093. For a qualifying veteran with one dependent, the maximum is $34,488. A qualifying surviving spouse with no dependents may have a maximum Aid & Attendance rate of $18,697.
The VA’s net-worth limit for Veterans Pension eligibility is $163,699 from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. Actual benefits depend on income, medical expenses, dependents, service history, and other eligibility factors.
Families should verify eligibility directly with the VA or a qualified veterans service representative before making financial plans around a potential benefit.
6. Medicare: What It Does and Doesn’t Pay For
Medicare is frequently misunderstood when families begin researching home care.
Medicare can cover certain medically necessary home health services when eligibility requirements are met, including skilled nursing and physical, occupational, or speech therapy. It may also cover limited home health aide services when the beneficiary is simultaneously receiving qualifying skilled services.
However, Medicare does not pay for 24-hour care at home, routine homemaker services such as shopping and cleaning unrelated to a covered care plan, or custodial/personal care such as bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom when that is the only care a person needs.
This distinction is important: non-medical home care and Medicare-covered skilled home health are different types of services with different coverage rules.
Can Families Combine Different Sources of Payment?
Yes. Families do not necessarily have to rely on a single source of funding. Depending on eligibility and coverage, a household might combine VA benefits with private-pay hours, Senior Options services with family caregiving, Medicaid-funded services with additional private-pay care, or long-term care insurance with personal funds.
The right combination depends on the senior’s eligibility, care needs, insurance coverage, and financial circumstances. The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging and Franklin County Office on Aging can help families identify public programs that may apply.
How Many Hours of Home Care Does a Senior Need?
There is no universal number of hours. A senior who needs occasional companionship or help with meals may need only a few hours each week, while someone who needs substantial assistance with activities of daily living may need daily visits or more extensive coverage.
Families commonly use home care for:
- Companionship and social engagement
- Bathing, grooming, and dressing assistance
- Meal preparation and nutrition support
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Transportation and errands
- Respite for family caregivers
- Help maintaining daily routines and independence
Rather than starting with a number of hours, families should first identify the specific tasks and times of day when support is needed. That makes it easier to create a care schedule that is both appropriate and financially sustainable.
Local Senior Care Resources in Franklin County
| Resource | What it can help with | Phone |
| Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging — PASSPORT | Medicaid-funded home and community-based services | (614) 645-7250 |
| Franklin County Senior Options | Personal care, homemaker services, respite, meals, transportation and more | (614) 525-6200 |
| Franklin County Veterans Service Commission | Assistance navigating veterans’ benefits | (614) 525-2500 |
| Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging — general line | Connection to local aging services | 1-800-589-7277 |
Planning for Home Care Before a Crisis
The cost of home care can feel overwhelming when a family is trying to make decisions quickly after a fall, hospitalization, or sudden change in a parent’s needs. Planning ahead gives families more choices.
Start by understanding the level of help your loved one needs. Then review available benefits, insurance coverage, and private resources. Comparing care schedules can also help families understand how changes in the number of hours affect the monthly budget.
Most importantly, families do not have to figure everything out at once. A conversation with a local aging-services organization can help identify programs for which your loved one may qualify.
Considering Private-Pay Home Care in Columbus or Franklin County?
CaringNest Home Care provides personalized, non-medical home care designed around each senior’s routines, preferences, and needs. Our services are intended to help older adults remain comfortable and supported at home while giving families greater peace of mind.
Schedule a Care Consultation, and one of our care team will go over your options.
Sources and Further Reading
- Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging — PASSPORT
- Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging — PASSPORT Program Highlight
- Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging — Franklin County Senior Options
- Franklin County Office on Aging — Senior Options FAQ
- Franklin County, Ohio — Senior Options Programs
- Ohio Department of Aging — PASSPORT
- Brevy Care — Cost of Senior Care in Ohio (2026), citing CMS 2026 SSI/Spousal Impoverishment Standards
- American Council on Aging — Ohio Medicaid PASSPORT Waiver
- PayingForSeniorCare.com — Paying for Assisted Living & Home Care in Ohio
- Genworth/CareScout — 2024 Cost of Care Survey Results
- CareScout — 2025 Cost of Care Survey Results
- LTC News — Ohio Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program
- Brevy Care — VA Aid and Attendance in Ohio (2026)
- Franklin County, Ohio — Veterans Service Commission
Editorial note: This article is for general educational purposes and reflects publicly available information reviewed in August 2026. Rates, benefit amounts, eligibility rules, and program requirements can change. Families should confirm current information with the applicable government agency, insurer, or qualified professional before making financial decisions.