24-hour home care is among the costliest care options; understanding the price helps you plan and find savings.
What does 24-hour home care cost per month?
Continuous 24-hour shift care — where caregivers rotate so someone is always awake — generally runs $15,000–$25,000+ per month in 2025. That reflects roughly $30–$35 per hour applied to all 720+ hours in a month. Live-in care, where a caregiver sleeps overnight and isn't paid for all 24 hours, is usually cheaper, often $9,000–$14,000 monthly. Skilled nursing pushes costs higher, and high-cost metro areas raise rates further. For comparison, this often exceeds the cost of assisted living or even nursing-home care.
What affects the cost and how can I lower it?
Cost drivers include your region, the care level (companion vs. personal vs. skilled), shift versus live-in model, weekend and holiday premiums, and agency versus independent hiring. To reduce cost, consider live-in care if your loved one sleeps through the night, mix family caregiving with paid hours, or check funding sources. Medicare won't cover 24-hour care, but Medicaid waivers, VA Aid and Attendance, and long-term care insurance can offset it. Call 1-800-MEDIGAP for a personalized cost estimate and payment review.