This page is designed to help residents of Indiana understand the costs connected with assisted living, home care, and adult day care. Additionally, it explores payment options and financial aid programs that may be available to help in caring for elderly loved ones.
Please use our Resource Locator Tool to search for assistance programs nationwide. The ones outlined here are comprehensive, but only at the state level, specific to Indiana, and do not include options available at a national level. In order to find the most appropriate program for your situation, it is strongly recommended you search for programs at all levels.
Indiana Eldercare Costs for 2024
Assisted Living / Memory Care
According to Genworth’s 2023 Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Indiana is approximately $5,013. In Evansville, Terre Haute, and Michigan City, the monthly cost is a bit higher, averaging between $7,245 and $5,913 / month. Muncie, Lafayette, and Kokomo are on par with the statewide average at $5,198 – $5,499 / month. The least expensive assisted living can be found in Bloomington and Indianapolis, where the monthly cost is approximately $3,108 – $3,993 / month.
Memory care (for persons with moderate dementia, such as Alzheimer’s) typically costs 20% – 30% more than regular assisted living. This equates to an approximate additional cost of $777 to $1,811 per month.
Home Care
Per the 2023 Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the average hourly rate for home care across Indiana is $31 / hour. The most expensive home care can be found Terre Haute, where the cost is $38 / hour. The survey found the least expensive care in Indianapolis at $31 / hour.
For persons who need in-home medical care, home health care is also available. The statewide average cost is $35 / hour. Home health care in Elkhart is greater than the statewide average, with an approximate cost of $1 more per hour.
Adult Day Care
Genworth’s 2023 Cost of Care Survey indicates that the average cost of adult day care services is $269 / day. In Indianapolis, one can expect to pay $280 / day. On the other end, one can find costs as low as $53 / day in South Bend.
Indiana Medicaid Financial Assistance Programs
Medicaid Programs & Waivers for the Elderly
Medicaid covers the cost of nursing home care, as well as limited personal care, for elderly and frail low-income individuals. In addition to the state Medicaid plan, Indiana also offers HCBS (Home and Community Based Services) Medicaid Waivers to assist those who need a nursing home level of care, but prefer to remain living at home or in the community. The goal of these waiver programs is for individuals to remain living in their homes for as long as possible, delaying or preventing nursing home placement. Indiana currently offers one Medicaid-based assistance program relevant to the elderly.
This program is intended to provide state residents assistance for living at home, in foster homes, or in assisted living. It also assists individuals who currently reside in a nursing home but wish to return home. Many benefits are available via this program, including adult day care, home and vehicle modifications, and homemaker services. Family members can be hired to act as personal care providers. Waiting lists may apply.
Rather than a separate waiver, Structured Family Caregiving / Caregiver Homes is a benefit that falls under the Aged and Disabled Medicaid waiver. It is intended to provide a caregiver for an elderly or disabled resident, either in the caregiver’s home or the home of the individual in need of care. This program is designed in an adult foster care model, where the individual in need of care lives with their caregivers, and the caregiver receives compensation. Certain family members, including adult children, can be hired as the caregiver.
Medicaid Eligibility
As of 2024, to qualify for long-term-care Medicaid as a disabled or elderly person, one must be a resident of at least 65 years of age, or under the age of 65 and disabled. The monthly income limit is set at $2,829 (300% of the Federal Benefit Rate) for single applicants, while the asset limit is set at $2,000. Both the income and asset limits increase should a married couple apply for benefits.
If only one spouse of a married couple applies, the non-applicant spouse may be entitled to a portion of the applicant spouse’s income. This is known as the Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA), and as of 2024, as much as $3,853.50 / month can be transferred to the non-applicant spouse.
In addition, as of 2024, a non-applicant spouse can keep up to $154,140 of the couple’s joint assets. This is called the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA). Both of these rules are in place to prevent spousal impoverishment. Read more about getting assistance qualifying for Medicaid.
Indiana Non-Medicaid Assistance Programs
The state of Indiana currently offers three non-Medicaid assistance programs.
The first is the CHOICE Program, also called the Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled. It provides in-home care, in-home support, and home modifications for aging in place.
The second program, HoosierRx, offers financial support to assist seniors in paying their Medicare Part D premiums, which provides medication coverage.
The third program, Indiana Residential Care Assistance Program, provides financial support for individuals residing in state-approved homes and residential care facilities. This assistance may help cover the cost of room and board, laundry, and care coordination.
PACE Programs in Indiana
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a joint initiative between Medicare and Medicaid to help seniors get the care and services they need in the community rather than transitioning to a nursing home for care. Because Medicaid differs in each state, PACE eligibility varies between states.
Older adults in Indiana may qualify for community-based services through the PACE program. Services include but aren’t limited to adult day services offering personal care, nutritional counseling, meals, nursing, social work, and physical and occupational therapies. Benefits also include primary care, emergency services, home care, dentistry, hospital care, nursing home care, laboratory and X-ray services, transportation and social services. To qualify for PACE in Indiana, adults must be:
- Aged 55 or older
- Able to safely live in the community at enrollment
- State-certified as needing a nursing home level of care
- Live in an area serviced by a PACE provider
How To Get Started with PACE in Indiana
Participants in Indiana’s PACE program must sign an agreement stating that the PACE organization will be their sole provider of services. Applicants may visit the Indiana Medicaid website to learn more about the PACE program, including eligibility guidelines. The PACE providers listed below can also help eligible older adults get started with PACE in Indiana.
Other Financial Options for Care
Additional funding for care can also be found at the federal and non-profit levels. In addition to the options listed above, there are programs to assist veterans, as well as loans available for elder care. Use the Resource Locator Tool to find these and other programs that may reduce the cost of care. This tool is also invaluable in finding the program that is best matched to your situation.
Finding Affordable Care in Indiana
Even though the cost of care in Indiana can be more affordable than surrounding states, there is still a broad range of elder care pricing throughout the state. Given this fact, it is strongly recommended that one contact various providers to uncover more affordable care. To help citizens with this process, our organization offers a service, free of charge. This service matches particular care needs with the care providers in the appropriate price range and ideal geographic region. Click here for assistance.
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Top Cities for Senior Care in Indiana
For more information about the costs and resources available in Indiana cities, click on the links below.
Top Cities for Memory Care
Top Cities for Assisted Living
