Hourly home care offers flexible, pay-as-you-go support for seniors who need help only part of the time.
How does hourly home care work?
Hourly home care lets families schedule a caregiver for specific blocks of time rather than full-time coverage. A caregiver might come a few mornings a week to help with bathing and breakfast, drive to appointments, prepare meals, do light housekeeping, run errands, or provide companionship and safety checks. Most agencies set a minimum visit length — commonly 2 to 4 hours — so caregiver time is used efficiently. It's the most flexible and affordable entry point to home care, ideal for seniors who are mostly independent but need help with certain tasks or times of day.
How much does hourly home care cost?
Hourly home care averages $30–$35 per hour nationally in 2025, per Genworth data, with companion care often a bit lower and skilled care higher. Rates rise for evenings, weekends, holidays, and high-cost metro areas. Because you pay only for scheduled hours, weekly cost depends on your plan — 12 hours a week might run about $1,500–$1,800 monthly. Medicare doesn't cover non-medical hourly care, but Medicaid, VA benefits, and long-term care insurance may help. Call 1-800-MEDIGAP for local pricing.