Quick answer
In-home care is non-medical help at home from a trained caregiver: bathing, dressing, meals, light housekeeping, errands, reminders and company. It's billed by the hour; in 2025 the median was $34 an hour in Kansas and $33 in Missouri (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025). It's usually paid privately; Medicare doesn't pay for it when it's the only care needed. (800) 614-8388 to find agencies near you.
What an in-home caregiver does
- Personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting.
- Meals: planning, cooking, cleaning up.
- Medication reminders.
- Light housekeeping and laundry.
- Errands, shopping and rides to appointments.
- Companionship, walks and conversation.
- Supervision for someone with memory loss.
Caregivers don't provide skilled nursing. For wound care, injections or therapy, that's home health care.
How much help is enough?
Many families start with a few visits a week and add hours as needs grow. Common patterns:
- A few hours, a few days a week for bathing, meals and errands.
- Daily visits for medications, meals and a check-in.
- Overnight or 24-hour care after a hospital stay or as dementia progresses. See 24-hour home care costs.
At full-time hours, home care can cost more than assisted living: 44 hours a week had a 2025 median of $6,435 a month in Kansas.
Agency or independent caregiver?
| Agency | Hiring directly | |
|---|---|---|
| Screening and training | Agency handles | You handle |
| Payroll and taxes | Agency handles | You're the employer |
| Backup if the caregiver is sick | Agency sends someone | You find someone |
| Cost per hour | Usually higher | Usually lower |
Who helps pay
Long-term care insurance, VA benefits for eligible veterans and surviving spouses, and Medicaid home and community-based services waivers for people who qualify. Your Area Agency on Aging (1-800-677-1116) knows local programs. See paying for care.
Getting started
- List what help is needed and when.
- Call two or three agencies and ask the questions in our agency checklist.
- Meet the caregiver before the first shift.
- Start with a trial schedule and adjust.
Want help at home?
We'll introduce you to home care agencies near your parent. Free.
Questions families ask
How much does in-home care cost per hour?
The 2025 median was $34 an hour in Kansas, $33 in Missouri and $35 nationally.
Does Medicare pay for in-home care?
Not for non-medical care alone. It covers part-time skilled home health care when the rules are met.
What's the minimum number of hours?
Many agencies set a minimum visit length. Ask each agency.
Can in-home care help someone with dementia?
Yes. Ask whether the agency trains caregivers in dementia care. See dementia home care.