If you’re researching home care for yourself or a family member, the price is usually the first question — and one of the hardest to get a straight answer to. Rates vary by agency, region, and hours needed, and a lot of what’s published online is a national average that doesn’t reflect New York specifically. Here’s a clear breakdown.

The going rate for home care in New York

The CareScout (formerly Genworth) Cost of Care Survey, a widely cited industry benchmark, put the national median rate for non-medical home care at $35 per hour in 2025. New York-specific estimates based on the 2024 edition put the New York state median closer to $34 per hour.

Touch of Love Homecare’s private-pay rate is $32 per hour, with a 4-hour minimum per visit — below both benchmarks above. We also offer live-in and overnight arrangements for families who need more continuous coverage.

What actually drives the cost of home care

• Hours per week. A few hours a few days a week costs far less than daily coverage, which costs less than live-in or 24/7 care.
• Type of care. Non-medical personal care is typically billed differently than skilled nursing care, which isn’t what most HHA/PCA-based agencies (including TOL) provide.
• Minimum visit length. Most agencies, including TOL, set a minimum per visit (ours is 4 hours) rather than billing in smaller increments.
• Region. Costs in New York City and surrounding counties tend to run higher than upstate.

A rough monthly picture

Here’s what a few common schedules look like at TOL’s $32/hour rate (4-hour minimum applies per visit):

• 4 hours/day, 5 days/week: roughly $2,560/month
• 4 hours/day, 7 days/week: roughly $3,584/month
• 8 hours/day, 7 days/week: roughly $7,168/month

These are simple hours-times-rate estimates, not quotes — actual cost depends on your family’s specific schedule.

You may not have to pay privately at all

If your loved one is enrolled in — or may be eligible for — one of New York’s Medicaid home and community-based waiver programs, home care may be covered at no direct cost to the family:

• NHTD (Nursing Home Transition and Diversion) — for adults with physical disabilities who qualify for a nursing-home level of care but want to remain at home.
• TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) — for individuals with a qualifying brain injury on a similar path.
• EISEP (Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program) — a non-medical program (no MD order required).

Eligibility for NHTD and TBI generally requires New York Medicaid enrollment, income and asset limits, and a nursing-home level-of-care determination — it’s not automatic, and there can be a waiting list. Touch of Love works directly with NHTD, TBI, and EISEP referrals and can help you figure out where you stand.

Questions worth asking any agency about cost

1. 1What’s your hourly rate, and is there a minimum number of hours per visit?
2. 2Are there different rates for daytime, overnight, weekend, or holiday coverage?
3. 3Is there a deposit or minimum commitment required upfront?
4. 4Do you accept Medicaid waiver programs (NHTD, TBI, EISEP), and can you help determine if I qualify?
5. 5Is the quoted rate the same rate the caregiver is paid, or is there a large spread?

Touch of Love Homecare’s rates, in one place

• Private pay: $32/hour, 4-hour minimum per visit
• Medicaid waiver programs accepted: NHTD, TBI, EISEP — typically no direct cost once approved
• Service area: Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester

Related reading

• How to Choose a Home Care Agency in New York
• Signs It Might Be Time for Home Care
• Home Care vs. Assisted Living: How to Decide