---
title: "24-Hour Home Care Cost: What Round-the-Clock Care Runs"
description: "What 24-hour home care costs, worked out from 2025 hourly medians for Kansas and Missouri, live-in vs. shift care, and options that may cost less."
url: https://seniortransitionassistance.com/costs/24-hour-home-care/
updated: 2026-10-09
site: Senior Transition Assistance
---

What it costs

# How much does 24-hour home care cost?

Round-the-clock care at home is possible, but it's the most expensive way to get care. Here's how to estimate it and what to compare it with.

Talk it through with a person[  (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388)

Free. We listen, explain your options, and introduce you to a few that fit. You decide.

Quick answer

No survey we can cite publishes a 24-hour home care rate, so here's the math: at the 2025 median hourly rate for home care ($34 in Kansas, $33 in Missouri), 24 hours a day works out to about $24,820 a month in Kansas and about $24,090 in Missouri. Live-in arrangements are often priced differently, so get written quotes. Assisted living ($5,975 in Kansas) or a nursing home usually costs much less. [(800) 614-8388](tel:+18006148388) to compare.

**Last updated October 9, 2026** Costs are published medians or typical ranges with a named source, never quotes. Every community and agency prices differently.

**On this page**

1. [ The math, shown](#g-the-math-shown)
2. [Shift care vs. live-in care](#g-shift-care-vs-live-in-care)
3. [How it compares](#g-how-it-compares)
4. [Ways to bring the cost down](#g-ways-to-bring-the-cost-down)
5. [Questions](#g-faq)

## The math, shown

| Hours of care | Kansas at $34/hour | Missouri at $33/hour |
|---|---|---|
| 12 hours a day | about $12,410 a month | about $12,045 a month |
| 24 hours a day | about $24,820 a month | about $24,090 a month |

These are our estimates: the CareScout 2025 median hourly rate times hours, times 365 days, divided by 12. They are not published survey figures. Agencies may charge more for nights, weekends and holidays, or quote a different rate for live-in care.

## Shift care vs. live-in care

- **Shift care:** two or three aides work shifts so someone is always awake. Usually priced by the hour.
- **Live-in care:** one aide lives in the home and has sleep and meal breaks. Often priced by the day. It works when your parent sleeps through most nights.

Ask agencies how they handle breaks, overnight wake-ups and backup when an aide is sick.

## How it compares

| 2025 monthly median | Kansas | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | $5,975 | $5,400 |
| Nursing home, shared room | $8,669 | $6,741 |
| Home care, 44 hours a week | $6,435 | $6,292 |

CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025.

## Ways to bring the cost down

- Mix family care with paid shifts.
- Add [adult day care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/adult-day-care/) on weekdays.
- Use technology like medical alert systems for some overnight hours, when safe.
- Check Medicaid waivers, VA benefits and long-term care insurance.
- Medicare home health covers part-time skilled care only, not 24-hour care.

### Is 24-hour care at home realistic?

We'll help you compare home care and senior living options near Kansas City. Free.

[  (800) 614-8388 ](tel:+18006148388)[Have us call you](#g-form)

## Questions families ask

### How much is 24-hour home care per month?

At the 2025 median hourly rate, about $24,820 a month in Kansas and about $24,090 in Missouri. That's our estimate, not a published figure.

### Is live-in care cheaper than 24-hour care?

Often, because it's priced by the day and includes sleep breaks. Ask agencies for written quotes.

### Does Medicare pay for 24-hour home care?

No. Medicare home health doesn't cover 24-hour care at home.

### Is a nursing home cheaper than 24-hour home care?

Usually. The 2025 median for a shared nursing home room was $8,669 a month in Kansas.

## Sources

- [CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, Median Cost Data Tables (survey July to November 2025; median cost data tables, published March 2026)](https://pro.genworth.com/riiproweb/productinfo/pdf/282102.pdf)
- [Medicare.gov: Home health services](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services)

## Related guides

- [In-home care costs](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/costs/in-home-care/)
- [In-home care vs. assisted living](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/vs-assisted-living/)
- [Nursing homes](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/costs/nursing-home/)
- [In-home care](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/help/care-at-home/in-home-care/)
- [Home health aides](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/costs/home-health-aide/)
- [Live-in caregiver](https://seniortransitionassistance.com/costs/live-in-caregiver/)

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