The national median cost of full-time home care is $6,292 per month, compared to $9,277 for a semi-private room in a nursing home. Home care can include nonmedical and medical services, but nursing homes provide the highest level of medical care outside of a hospital. Medical expenses that are part of home care and nursing home costs are tax deductible when they exceed 7.5% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income.
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In-home care, which can include nonmedical and medical services, costs about $6,292 per month for 44 hours per week, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[01] At this rate, home care is less expensive than a nursing home, which costs about $9,277 for a semi-private room and $10,646 for a private room.[02]
However, when someone requires around-the-clock access to care that only licensed medical professionals can provide, a nursing home is the more cost-effective option. Around-the-clock home care, at the national median cost of $33 per hour, can cost as much as $24,090 per month. Learn more about the key differences between home care and nursing homes.
The two most important factors that affect the cost of home care are the:
Nursing home costs can be seen as “all-inclusive” prices because the monthly rate covers room and board, assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), and medical care. Nursing home prices are determined primarily by location and the type of room a resident chooses.
Here’s a breakdown of the national median costs for nursing homes:[02]
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Yes, families can deduct the cost of home care on their federal income tax return when expenses:
These conditions also apply to taxpayers who want to deduct nursing home expenses.
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Understanding the cost differences between home care and nursing homes may help you decide about which type of long-term care is best for your loved one.
While A Place for Mom doesn’t refer to nursing homes, our Senior Living Advisors can help you and your family explore other senior care options in your area. Many of the assisted living communities we partner with offer on-site access to nursing care services. Our advisors can also provide information about local home care providers based on your loved one’s unique needs and budget, all at no cost to you.
When home health care is required around-the-clock, or 24/7, it’s considerably more expensive than assisted living, which often offers access to on-site nursing care, or a nursing home.
Home modifications, medical equipment, transportation, emergency coverage, and respite care are some of the additional costs that families must consider when their loved one receives care at home.
Yes. Many people move from home care to a nursing home. For example, people who had been receiving care at home and then had a hospital stay following an injury or a surgical procedure often go to a nursing home afterward.
A Place for Mom. (2025). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Genworth Financial, Inc. (2025). Cost of care survey.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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