Join Our Team The Real Cost of Home Care in St. Louis and Chicago
The first number isn’t always the real number.
You’ve probably already shopped around. And you’ve heard it all: “Our rates start at…” “There’s a minimum.” “It depends on your care needs.” “We’ll go over pricing at the visit.”
That starting number is real. But very few families end up paying it. Here’s how home care pricing really works, and at the end of this page, you’ll see ours.
How home care is usually priced
Across our industry, the final price often depends on things decided after you’ve said yes:
- How “difficult” the agency decides your parent’s care is
- How far the caregiver drives to your home
- Whether care falls on nights or weekends
- How short the visits are
- Minimum hours, deposits and commitments
Each add-on is small on its own. Together, they let the price become almost anything.
Before you compare quotes, ask every company these four questions
- Is that the real rate, or a “starting at” rate? A “starting at” number is where the price begins, not where it ends.
- Is the caregiver awake all night, or is it a “resting shift”? Many agencies offer overnight “resting shifts” at a lower rate. That means the caregiver is allowed to sleep. If your mom gets up at 3 a.m. to use the bathroom, she needs someone awake and standing beside her, not someone asleep in the next room.
- Do I pay a deposit or sign a commitment? Are there minimum hours per visit, per day or per week? If so, ask exactly what they are. Minimums often decide your real cost more than the hourly rate does.
- What will I actually see on my invoice? Ask for every add-on in writing: level-of-care charges, distance fees, and night, weekend and short-visit rates. The invoice is the real price.
We took it all out
We think the price should be clear before you call, not after you sign. So we built ours differently. One flat rate for days, nights and weekends. No level-of-care tiers. No distance fees. No deposit. No contract.
The number you see is the number you pay.
Start care with just four hours a week
Most home care agencies won’t start care until you commit to long visits and 20 or more hours a week. That’s a lot to ask of a family that isn’t sure yet, and a lot to ask of a parent who isn’t ready for a stranger in the house every day.
We do it differently. Care can start with one four-hour visit a week.
That means you and your family can:
- Test the water. See how Mom does with a Care Professional before committing to more.
- Get real respite. Take an afternoon for yourself, your kids or your job, knowing she’s in good hands.
- Build trust slowly. Mom gets to know one familiar face at her own pace.
- Grow only when you’re ready. Add hours when the need is there, not because a contract says so.
Great care shouldn’t require a big commitment to begin.
Our Home Care Rates
| Program | Rate | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly home care | $43 an hour | Families who need 20 or more hours a week, back-ups guaranteed, plus access to our Care & Safety Program at no additional charge |
| CarePlus Program | $48 an hour | Families starting small between 4 hours and 20 hours a week |
| Couples care | 1.25 times the rate | One Care Professional caring for both spouses |
| Veterans Program | No cost to the veteran | Veterans referred through VA health care; the VA pays us directly |
Both hourly rates are flat. Days, nights and weekends are the same price. There is no “level of care” surcharge, no distance fee, no deposit and no contract. Overnight Care Professionals stay awake and on duty all night, at the same rate. Care can start with as little as one four-hour visit a week, which comes to $192 under the CarePlus Program rate. Holidays are billed at 1.5 times the rate, as they are across home care agencies and our Caregivers are paid 1.5 times their hourly wage as well; the complete list of observed holidays are listed in our Service Agreement.
Why our rate is what it is
There will always be a lower price somewhere. We understand that, and we respect every family’s budget.
But when it comes to the person you love, the lowest number isn’t always the best value. Our rate pays for things that don’t show up on a quote:
- Care Professionals who stay. We hire about 2 to 3% of the people who apply, and we pay among the highest wages in the field. For your family, that means Mom sees a familiar face, not a revolving door. She builds trust with someone who knows her routine, her stories and what makes her smile.
- A written standard of professionalism. Our Professionalism Pledge spells out exactly what to expect when our team is in your home. For your family, that means no guessing and no awkward conversations. You know the standard before the first visit, and you can hold us to it.
- A promise we put in writing. If you ever feel we didn’t do a wonderful job on a given day, call within 24 hours and we’ll make it right, waiving up to 100% of that visit. We aren’t aware of another home care company that makes that promise. For your family, that means you’re never stuck paying for a day that fell short. Your voice is heard, and it changes tomorrow.
- Peace of mind between visits. Our Care & Safety Program, powered by Sensi, uses AI technology to help detect safety concerns, like a fall, while our team is away. It’s available to qualifying families at no added cost. For your family, that means you can sleep at night and focus at work, knowing someone is watching out for Mom even when no one is in the house.
So here’s the question we ask every family: if every company charged the same rate, who would you choose, and why?
If your answer is the things on this list, you already know what our rate pays for.
What’s the next step?
- Tell us about your family. A short call is usually enough to give you a real number for your situation.
- We sit down with you, often the same day. A Discovery Visit takes 60 to 90 minutes. We learn about your mom or dad: their routine, their needs, what a good day looks like.
- We match the right Care Professional. Someone chosen for your parent, not just whoever is free that day.
Since 2011, more than 6,000 St. Louis and Chicago families have trusted us with someone they love. You deserve a clear price before you decide. Your parent deserves care that’s worth it.
