The first step in finding in-home care quickly, or on an emergency basis, is to understand whether nonmedical home care or home health care is needed. Next, although private caregivers can sometimes start working with very little notice, a home care agency or home health care agency is more likely to be able to respond quickly.
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Finding home care quickly depends on understanding whether your loved one needs home care or home health care. While some agencies and private caregivers provide both, it’s important to be specific about your loved one’s needs so you don’t waste time talking with agencies that can’t provide the kind of care they need.
It’s also important to be clear about how long care will be needed. Understand whether you’re seeking immediate, short-term, or long-term home care.
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Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
The national average for home care services in 2025 is $33 per hour.[01] Agencies and private caregivers may charge higher prices for same-day services, and agencies typically bill for immediate services on a “per diem” or “shift” rate basis, which may be higher than their normal rate.
Finding in-home care quickly is very time-consuming. Working with an expert can shorten the search and ensure you find the right fit. A Place for Mom’s Senior Living Advisors will seek to understand your family’s urgent needs, help you decide what kind of care will be best for your loved one,* and will help you identify caregivers in your area.
While you may be able to find and hire a private caregiver who can start immediately, home care and home health care agencies are more likely to have staff who can begin caring for your loved one as soon as possible. Also, if your loved one needs 24-hour care, working with one agency that has staff who can cover multiple shifts is likely to be easier than finding and working with several private caregivers.
Typically, agencies will work to meet urgent and even same-day requests, depending on the availability of their caregivers and the specifics of the situation.
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Whether you hire an agency or one or more private caregivers, the time you spend ensuring they’ll be a good fit for your loved one won’t be wasted. For example:
This article was originally written by Leah Hallstrom.
* A Place for Mom refers to home care agencies but doesn’t refer to home health care providers.
Many home care and home health care agencies can begin caring for your loved one in as little as one day.
Yes, many families find that home care after a hospital stay provides peace of mind and practical help for seniors who need a little bit of support. Services often include light housekeeping, help with meals, hygiene, and transportation.
A Place for Mom. (2025). Cost of long-term care and senior living.
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