Home Care in Kentucky

Senior home care in Kentucky is geared toward providing seniors with a range of options for remaining independent while receiving care in the comfort of their own homes. Currently, there are about 356 home care agencies found throughout Kentucky with an average monthly cost of around $3,659.

Find HOME CARE Facilities In KENTUCKY

Find Senior Caring Options by County

Home Care in Kentucky - Cost Comparison

There are a number of cities throughout KY that have senior home care agencies but the median monthly cost ranges from:

  • Highest Cost: Lexington Area $3,647
  • Lowest Cost: Owensboro $3,051

CityHomemaker Services Monthly CostsHome Health Aide Monthly Costs
Bowling Green$3,623$3,623
Elizabethtown Area$3,241$3,241
Lexington$3,527$3,718
Louisville$3,813$3,886
Owensboro$3,241$3,241
Rest of State$3,432$3,432

Recreation & Attractions in Kentucky

Kentucky has great views for residents to see such as the Mammoth Cave National Park, Lost River Cave, National Quilt Museum, Kentucky Down Under, Red River Gorge, and many more interesting sights to be seen. The Mammoth Cave National Park is the longest system of caves in the world, with incredible rock formations, high ceilings, a river and other fascinating geological features. The National Quilt Museum displays a variety of different quilts from all over the world as well as many historical pieces from Kentucky itself. Visitors and residents can also enjoy Kentucky Down Under, an Australian themed zoo with Aussie animals like kangaroos, peacocks, white bison, lemurs and others.

Kentucky contains plenty for seniors to do and see. There are senior centers throughout the state provide senior-oriented activities like senior sports and fitness classes, games, and technology seminars. Specialized senior trips are also available to places such as the Kentucky Derby Museum, the National Corvette Museum, and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.  

Kentucky's Climate, Geography & Culture

The climate in Kentucky is considered temperate and supports four seasons with warm summers and mild winters. The average high in summer is 88 degrees and the average low in the winter is 24 degrees. Compared to the United States as a whole, KY gets more rain, but less snowfall per year with 47 inches and 11 inches respectively over a total of 115 days. During the summer, humidity levels are pretty high. Light clothing during the summer with a light jacket for some evenings and then the spring and fall and heavier weights for winter are recommended.

Kentucky’s culture is famous for two things that don't always mix well: horse racing and bourbon. Overall, the state is very rural with horse farms often bordering towns. Every aspect of the equine industry from racing to breeding and riding are all essential aspects of Kentuckian culture. On the first Sunday of May each year, Louisville hosts the Kentucky Derby, attracting massive crowds vying to get a glimpse of the action and maybe some prize money. Most people native to Kentucky are fans of fishing, hunting, and boating, aside from the horses and bourbon. The state is also a hotspot for music like country, bluegrass, and American folk artists. 

Crime & Safety in Kentucky

When searching for a home health care agency in Kentucky, it can be helpful to understand the safety of your surrounding community. Overall, Kentucky ranks 37 out of 100 for violent crime and 40 out of 100 for property crime (1 being the lowest crime.) Here are some of the safest places found throughout Kentucky.

LocationViolent Crimes Per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Prospect0.214.72
Flatwoods0.004.98
Greenville1.134.31
Fort Thomas0.377.21

(source: safewise.com)

Kentucky's Home Care Regulations & Laws

Medicare-certified home health aides are required to have a federal minimum of 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of additional education every 12 months following their licensing. Each state’s approved programs for training and evaluation are overseen by federal legislation (42 CFR 484.36) to ensure national consistency. These oversights make it easy to find the perfect home care option for you or your loved one in Kentucky. 

Payment Options for Kentucky Home Care

Paying for home care in Kentucky can be achieved in several ways, each based on what can work the best for your unique situation. 

First off, seniors may look to Medicare to receive coverage for their copayment and deductibles for medical home care through the Medicare Supplemental Insurances program. However, keep in mind that Medicare does not cover non-medical home care whatsoever. If this is an issue, it may be necessary to look to the other remaining methods of payment. 

Most of the time, seniors will choose to pay for their home care privately using their own savings, assets, or pensions. If these options are unavailable to you, it may be reasonable to consider paying through a reverse mortgage, by opening a home equity line of credit, or by converting your life insurance policy to cash. 

For veterans of the U.S., the Improved Pension and Homebound and Aid & Attendance Pension may be used to help pay for or cover the entire costs of home care. To learn whether you or a loved one qualifies for these benefits, contact your local Veterans’ Association or Area Agency on Aging

Finally, Medicaid is a joint federal and state insurance program for low-income seniors and their families that in most cases can be used to cover the costs of home care if it is deemed medically necessary. Each state has its own rules, requirements for eligibility, and specific benefits that will vary depending on where you go in the United States. Medicaid refers to these services as Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). For information on Kentucky’s home care Medicaid benefits, check out this list

Senior & Elderly Rights for Home Care in Kentucky

Medicare-approved home health care guarantees you a series of rights and protections designed to provide you with the best experience possible. As you move forward with your care, it is required that the agency staffing your caregiver provides you with information regarding your rights. Firstly, you are entitled to choose your own home health agency, although if you are on a managed care plan your choices may be fewer. At all times, your privacy, property, and individual autonomy must be respected by your caregiver within the parameters of the care provided

Although there may be the possibility that you will lack the ability to make reasonable or informed decisions about your home health care, you can appoint a family member or legal guardian to act on your behalf. Remember, you still retain your rights as a United States citizen as afforded to you by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

If you believe that you have experienced a violation of your rights, do not hesitate to contact a lawyer familiar with elder law or have someone advocate for you. 

Kentucky Home Care: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

While receiving home care or any other medical service in (STATE), your rights to obtain written or digital copies of your medical records is possible via written request. Although it’s a common misconception that this information cannot be disclosed due to privacy laws, the fact is that you can submit a written request to your health care provider and actually receive copies or digital versions of this information. Even if they ask, you don’t need to provide a reason for the request. You will likely be charged a fee and the request may be required in writing, but your records belong to you. 

Your protected health information details information regarding your physical and mental health and can also include medical records, billing records, claims adjudication records, and other private documents. By reviewing your information you’ll always be able to make any corrections needed with the supervision of your healthcare provider and ensure the overall accuracy of these records. If your request for your records is not honored within 30 days, you will be informed as to why the delay occured. 

Finding the perfect senior care community is only part of making your loved one’s senior living transition smooth. At SeniorCaring, we know that it is also equally important to be aware of what other community services and resources are available to your family’s senior. Choose your location and find local resources for your senior.