I. What You Should Know About Home Care in Gaithersburg, MD
Gaithersburg is a comfortable bedroom community located in the northern suburbs of Washington, D.C. Consistently rated as one of the best places to live in Maryland, the town is home to 69,000 residents, 11.5% of whom are seniors aged 65 and over. This is expected to increase to over 19% by 2030, when the youngest baby boomers have reached retirement age.
Gaithersburg may be a quiet place to live, but as a suburb of the nation’s capital, it’s within easy reach of countless local nightlife hotspots, world-class restaurants and popular tourist attractions. Arlington National Cemetery is a short rail trip across the river, and you’re within 15 to 30 minutes of the U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, National Gallery of Art, National Air and Space Museum, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and National Portrait Gallery.
The north bank of the Potomac River is highly seasonal, with warm and rainy summers bookended by cool, snowy winters. Spring and fall are excellent times for seniors to take a walk outdoors to enjoy the trails around town lined with cherry blossoms in the spring and brilliant foliage in the fall. Active seniors have endless opportunities to enjoy unchallenging nature walks and paved public trails for jogging and biking.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in Gaithersburg, MD
Home care and home health services in Gaithersburg cost the same, $4,982 a month, according to Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey. This varies somewhat with the exact location and services offered in your area.
The figures Genworth arrives at assume 44 hours a week in care services. Your own monthly costs are likely to vary based on how many hours of care you actually need. To help you understand the cost of care in Gaithersburg, you can assume an hourly rate for both home care and home health services of $26.13.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Home care and home health service costs in Gaithersburg are, at $4,982 a month for both, somewhat higher than is typical for the rest of Maryland, where home care averages $4,576 a month and home health costs run to $4,982. Other cities in Maryland typically cost less than Gaithersburg. In Baltimore, for example, home care costs $4,671 and home health care averages $4,957. Salisbury seniors pay an average of $4,528 for home care and $4,576 for home health, while the cost of both services is $4,576 in Hagerstown. The U.S. averages for these care types are $4,481 and $4,576, respectively.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
Several other types of senior living arrangements are also available for the people who need them. A semiprivate room in a Gaithersburg nursing care home, for example, costs an average of $12,471 a month. Assisted living and adult day care are other options seniors have available. Unfortunately, cost figures for these two types of care are not available for the Gaithersburg area.
Note: Data for Gaithersburg was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Washington, D.C., was used instead.
III. How to Find Home Care in Gaithersburg, MD
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Gaithersburg, MD.
Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in Gaithersburg, MD
Montgomery County Respite Care
What You Should Know
Montgomery County offers extensive respite care services to relieve local caregivers on a short-term and as-needed basis. ARCMontgomery Respite Services sends a volunteer respite caregiver to your home for limited periods for up to a total of 140 hours in each calendar year. The county Department of Health and Human Services does charge a fee for participation in the program, but a sliding scale is available for seniors who meet the program’s income and asset limits.
When you apply for the respite care program, a program worker speaks with you and your caregiver to assess your needs and determine the best plan for respite care. You may be referred to a local facility that has space for you, if that is the best option for care, or a volunteer may be assigned to care for you at home. In-home respite care can be scheduled in advance, or it can be requested as needed or on an emergency basis.
Who Is Eligible?
You may be eligible to participate in the county’s respite care program if you are a senior with a need for supervision, or if you are the caregiver for a frail elderly adult, person with a disability or child with special needs. Ask your program worker for details about available programs and enrollment criteria at each of the program’s partner facilities.
How to Get Started
To learn more about respite care in Montgomery County, or to start the application process, call ARCMontgomery Respite Services at (301) 816-9647 and schedule an interview with an intake worker.
Montgomery County Department of Recreation
What You Should Know
The cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg provide free transportation to seniors who live within the service areas of their three senior centers. This service offers shuttle bus and disabled rides for medical and personal trips throughout the area, as well as scheduled service to and from the local senior centers. The Montgomery County Department of Recreation and the Jewish Council On Aging have set up a program for eligible seniors and their caregivers to get curb-to-curb ride service on a limited number of fixed routes and for scheduled rides as needed.
Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for the disabled shuttle service, you must be 55 years or older, live in the service areas of Damascus, Holiday Park, Schweinhaut, Long Branch and White Oak senior centers and be medically and mentally capable of riding alone or with a single caregiver.
How to Get Started
You can learn more about Montgomery County’s senior ride services by calling your local senior center, or by dialing (240) 777-4925 and asking for an enrollment application.
Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP)
What You Should Know
The Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) helps Gaithersburg seniors with emergency bill payment assistance and home energy support programs to reduce the amount you’re paying for home gas and electric service. OHEP delivers aid through a number of different programs that are tailored to meet your individual needs. The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) provides direct financial assistance with home heating bills by making payments to your fuel supplier and utility company on your behalf. The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) provides financial assistance as a cash voucher to you that’s intended to help with your electric bill. If you qualify for the program, you will be placed on a budget plan with the utility company to limit your bills. Arrearage Retirement Assistance (ARA) can help you pay down your past due bills and avoid a disconnection. Qualified participants may get a one-time grant of up to $2,000 that can be used toward overdue bills. In order to qualify for ARA, you must currently have a bill of at least $300 and not have used the program for at least five years.
Who Is Eligible?
You are probably eligible for one or more OHEP benefits if you are a senior aged 55 or over, have an unpaid utility bill and meet the program’s income limits. None of the assistance you get from an OHEP program counts as income against any other benefits you may be getting, including food stamps and SSI.
How to Get Started
To register for the program, call (855) 583-8976.
Gaithersburg Meals On Wheels
What You Should Know
Gaithersburg Meals on Wheels delivers two fresh meals to seniors at home Monday through Friday. Volunteer drivers also provide an informal daily check-in service for homebound seniors.
Who Is Eligible?
There is no age requirement to participate in Meals on Wheels, and service is open to any adult who lives in the local area and can’t reliably get out to shop or to prepare food at home.
How to Get Started
Call (301) 216-4200 to apply for daily meal delivery and ask about other services that may be offered in your area.
Design for Life (DFL)
What You Should Know
Montgomery County offers three tax credits for home mobility upgrades through its Design for Life (DFL) incentive program. DFL can reduce the amount of property tax you owe on your home if you upgrade with qualifying mobility improvements. The aim of the program is to make wheelchair ramps, home elevators, guard rails and other disability-friendly home modifications affordable for average homeowners.
Who Is Eligible?
You can get the tax credit if you own your home, enroll in the program and get qualifying upgrades through a licensed contractor.
How to Get Started
You can apply for DFL online, or call 311 in Montgomery County for more information.