Top Home Care Agencies in Seattle, WA
Seattle offers 60 home care agencies dedicated to providing seniors and individuals with disabilities supportive services like help with activities of daily living and companionship. The average cost of home care in Seattle is $33 per hour, but the total cost varies depending on a client’s needs. To help you choose a suitable Seattle home care agency, we offer agency listings and insight into local costs, payment options, and client reviews of local agencies. We also highlight Washington licensing requirements for home care agencies to help you understand what’s standard before you decide on an agency.
Home Care Agencies near Seattle, WA
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Columbia Lutheran Home: the Staff, Nurses, and Aides for their kindness and compassionate care for my mom. It was always a good feeling visiting her and...
The care that [name removed] receives is wonderful. Caregivers have all been great. We have no complaints and we will keep using them as long as we can. Thank you for all the help that you have given us and...
Communication was very good and they return calls quickly. They keep us well informed. The staff is very friendly. I would recommend this service to others and already have. Our caregiver is one of the...
We used Synergy Home Care for a little while during my vacation. The person I initially spoke with was very good at setting things up. The caregivers were there when they were supposed to be and I did not...
I was in a real pinch to find the right care giver and "home manager" for my parents. Mom suffers from dementia and suddenly Dad, her main caregiver, had a stroke. Almost overnight, we needed immediate...
Home Care Assistance Does a very good job of providing quality care. They have sent me out a caregiver who gives me the piece of mind that my husband is safe and well cared for when I leave our house.The...
We are very pleased with this home care agency and everything they have done for us. This home care agency is very good at what they do, and they have great rates compared to the other agencies we looked...
They've been friendly. The caregivers they send are very good. They know what they're doing. And the billing process has gone okay as well.
This is a good place to start. You should give them a try and use their services. Some of the services offered for us were in-home care along with on call care. The caregivers were from Kenya, and they...
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My parents are doing reasonably well with Synergy home care. Our primary issue, however, is the fact that the caregiver that has come in to replace their former caregiver could be more self motivated. This...
I have been really pleased with this home care agency. They have been caring for my husband very well. The lady's that come and help are very kind and helpful. We are pleased and would recommend this home...
We first began working with Home Instead in [date removed]. It was an emergency situation, and the office set up 24-hour care for my husband in a very short space of time. Whenever there is a doubt or...
The staff at SeaCare In-Home Care Service really do care about their clients. They make sure personalities are well matched when placing a caregiver with a client. Highly recommend them to other families...
I would highly recommend Care Healthcare. Timely, friendly care at a reasonable price. They were very prompt about getting a qualified person in to care for my dad quickly.
The caregiver provided by Safeguard was very professional, friendly and attentive to my Mom's needs. The agency was also cheaper than the first agency we hired, and the caregiver they provided did a poor...
I recommend care service from A Helping Hand HomeCare. Their caregivers are very punctual and are always here on time. My mother loves them as well. They sent over a gentleman one day and my mother thought...
I would just tell others looking into Rewards Homecare to be specific about what you are wanting and needing from them. I would recommend them to other families.
The caregiver that came out to the house for companionship, unfortunately did not work out as mom was uncomfortable with them being there. The agency does offer services such as light housekeeping, cooking...
Costs of home care in Seattle, Washington
Average cost of home care in Seattle, WA
Average monthly cost of home care vs. senior living in Seattle, WA
Compare the costs of aging in place against senior living
Use our cost calculator to compare your loved one’s current living and home care expenses against the cost of senior living in Seattle.
Paying for home care in Seattle, Washington
In Seattle, people commonly look into paying for health-related home care costs using private or public health insurance like Medicare or Medicaid. Keep in mind, however, that health insurance usually only covers medically specialized home health care services. Nonmedical home care services, like personal care and housekeeping offered by the agencies listed here, may not be covered. For nonmedical home care services to be covered, they must be a medically necessary part of a home health care plan.
Many individuals in Seattle also turn to their income and other assets to pay for home care costs. This may include private funds from savings, retirement funds, and health savings accounts (HSAs). Individuals may also be able to use veterans benefits, or free up cash from reverse mortgages, life insurance policies, or long-term care insurance.
Paying for home care
Get an overview of all payment options for home care.
VA home care benefits
See how VA benefits can help veterans and their spouses pay for home care.
Home care and LTC insurance
Learn how to use long-term care insurance to cover home care costs.
Does Medicare pay for home care in Seattle?
Yes, Medicare can pay for some home care services in Seattle if they’re provided as a part of a home health care plan. Home health care is a medical form of home care that’s prescribed by a doctor to treat illness or injury at home.
In order for Medicare to cover home health care, services must be provided by a Medicare-certified home health care provider. Nonmedical home care services without a medical necessity may not be covered.
Does Medicaid pay for home care in Seattle?
Yes, Washington’s Medicaid program, known as Apple Health, does pay for some home care services in Seattle, because it’s categorized as a type of long-term care service. To qualify, individuals must have some difficulty performing daily tasks on their own due to aging or a disability. Qualifying home care services include assistance with the following:[01]
- Meal preparation
- Assistance with activities of daily living (also called ADLs, which include bathing, dressing, etc.)
- Housekeeping
Apple Health also covers home health care services for individuals who need skilled nursing care in their home. Home health services may include medical monitoring services like wound care and medication administration.[01]
What other Seattle services help seniors age in place?
In Seattle, seniors can reach out to the following organizations to help them age in place:
- Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) offer free and unbiased benefit counseling to Medicare beneficiaries in Washington. To access benefit counseling services and learn what you qualify for, you can attend a Medicare counseling session online or in person, or find a local SHIBA office near you.
- The Aging and Disability Services (ADS) is Seattle’s local area agency on aging. The ADS helps seniors and individuals with disabilities access their eligible care services. They also offer caregiver support, care coordination, and legal, nutrition, and transportation services to individuals with disabilities and seniors.
On this page, you’ll find both home care and home health care agency listings. However, A Place for Mom only refers to home care agencies, as we can’t refer to any Medicare-certified home health care agency.
Where do I get information about veterans benefits in Seattle?
To get information on potential veterans benefits you can use to pay for home care, use the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs’ (WDVA) King County veterans resources page. This portal helps locate veterans service organizations (VSOs) near you. These VSOs employ benefit counselors who can help veterans and their surviving spouses access their eligible benefits, like potential home care services.
Many of Seattle’s VSOs are located in one convenient location, which can be found at the VA regional office at this address:
Henry M. Jackson Federal Building
915 2nd Ave.
Seattle, WA 98174
Within the VA regional office, veterans can access several VSOs, such as the following:
What families are saying about home care in Seattle
Recent reviews for home care in Seattle
Serengeti Care - Westside in Renton, WA
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Senior Helpers - Auburn, WA
How to choose the right Seattle home care agency
To help you choose among Seattle home care agencies, we encourage you to consider several factors during your search. Some considerations may include licensing standards, accreditation status, agency hiring practices, fees, and minimum care requirements. Learning about these factors beforehand can help narrow down options based on what matters most to you or your loved one.
You may also want to consider whether medical care is needed within the home. While home care agencies can accommodate many personal care needs, some may not offer medically specialized home health care. Some agencies only offer nonmedical home care.
Home health care is prescribed by a doctor and provided by a licensed nurse or nursing assistant. Some agencies may offer both types of care, but it’s best to reach out to your loved one’s doctor or a social worker if home health care is necessary.
Knowing the type of care needed and information on Washington’s home care agency requirements can help you confidently choose a home care agency in Seattle.
Licensure and accreditation
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) licenses all home care and home health agencies in Seattle. To obtain a home care license, Seattle home care agencies must submit and receive approval from the health department for the following materials:[02]
- Completion of an in-home services orientation
- Background checks processed through the Washington State Patrol
- Description of agency’s organizational structure
- Description of management and supervision plans
- Description of home care agency services
Home health agency licensing requirements are similar, but they have more requirements as they also provide medical services.
After initial licensure, the DOH regularly performs unannounced on-site inspections of home care and home health agencies to ensure that they follow health and safety standards. Inspections are performed by registered nurses, who focus on:[03]
- Delivery of client care
- Interviewing clients about the quality of services they receive
- Interviewing agency employees about training and knowledge of agency policies
- Review of randomly selected client and employee files
Hiring practices
Learning about an agency’s hiring practices can help you see how their home care and home health aides are equipped to care for their clients. In Seattle, the DOH requires a criminal background check for every agency employee. The DOH also requires home care aides to meet at least one of the following requirements:[03]
- Have an active DOH home care aide certification
- Complete a home care aide certification in their first 200 days since being hired
- Complete a nursing assistant training program in their first 200 days
- Have prior experience as a home care aide in a licensed home care agency in Washington
- Be licensed as a nursing assistant, registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse in the state of Washington
Fees and minimums
Seattle home care agencies vary in their service fees and minimum care requirements. To make an informed decision, be sure to ask whether an agency requires any deposits, a minimum number of hours of care, or any additional charges for care.
For instance, some home care agencies offer a free initial assessment to assess care needs, while others may charge for one. Furthermore, some agencies may require a minimum number of hours per shift or charge extra for care provided overnight or on a holiday or weekend.
You may also want to ask whether a prospective agency has a minimum age requirement for clients, so you can more easily rule out options.
Other questions to ask Seattle home care agencies
Ask these 10 questions to help you find the right home care agency.
Frequently asked questions about home care in Seattle
Home Instead - Mountlake Terrace, WA, Griswold Care Pairing for Eastside & Bellevue, WA and Senior Helpers of Greater Puyallup are the top-rated Home Care facilities near Seattle, WA. These Home Care facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Home Care in Seattle is {{ zipAverageCost }} per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Home care is provided by an aide who comes to a senior’s home to help with daily chores and activities of daily living. It can be offered anywhere a senior calls home — including a house, senior apartment, independent living, or assisted living. Learn more about home care.
Home care services are customizable to a senior’s unique needs. Services can include companionship, help with chores like cooking and housekeeping, or assistance with activities of daily living, like toileting and bathing. Explore home care services in more detail.
Home care provides nonmedical services for seniors who require assistance with daily tasks like housework, bathing, dressing, and transportation. In contrast, home health care is prescribed by a doctor and includes services like skilled nursing care and therapies, health monitoring, and medication administration that are provided by licensed medical professionals. Read more about home care vs. home health care.
References
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Aging and Long-Term Support Administration. Services that help an adult remain at home.
Washington State Department of Health. Home care agencies.
Washington State Department of Health. (2024). In-home services survey program.
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