The national median for a non-medical caregiver is $35 an hour, according to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey (opens in new tab) from 2025. Local quotes vary, so treat that as a starting point rather than a promise.
The short version
- The national median for non-medical in-home care is $35 an hour (2025), so expect a Scottsdale quote in that neighborhood and confirm it in writing.
- Monthly cost is hours a week times the hourly rate times 4.33, so 20 hours a week at $35 comes to about $3,031.
- Nights, weekends, holidays, short visits and heavier personal care can raise the rate.
- Medicare does not pay for this kind of care, but ALTCS, VA Aid and Attendance and long-term care insurance may help.
- Call three agencies, ask for the rate and the minimum visit in writing, and compare the same schedule.
If you are arranging help after a parent's fall, list the tasks they now need help with and the hours you cannot be there before asking for a quote. Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale does not provide nursing home care, assisted living or home health.
Talk to someone in Scottsdale
Call Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale on a weekday and a person answers. Describe the week you have had and you will hear what makes sense next, with no obligation.
What does in home care cost per hour and per month here?
CareScout's 2025 survey puts the national median at $35 an hour for non-medical caregiver services, up 3% from the year before. At 44 hours a week for 52 weeks, that adds up to $80,080 a year.
Hours a week, times the hourly rate, times 4.33 weeks in a month.
- 10 hours a week at $35: about $1,516 a month
- 20 hours a week at $35: about $3,031 a month
- 44 hours a week at $35: about $6,668 a month
A caregiver for a day is the same math. Eight hours at $35 is $280 for the day, though some agencies set a daily or overnight rate that differs. Ask.
For comparison, CareScout lists the national median for assisted living at $6,200 a month. A private room in a nursing home is $355 a day, or $129,575 a year. Part-time home care often costs less than either, and your parent stays in the house.
A private caregiver you hire yourself may ask for a lower hourly rate. Then you become the employer. That can mean payroll taxes, backup when she is sick, and no one to call if she quits. Weigh that before you choose the cheaper number.
You can read what companionship visits look like before you ask for prices.
What makes the hourly rate go up or down?
Ask whether the hourly rate changes with the length of each visit. Many agencies set a minimum visit of three or four hours. Ask what it is.
Time of day matters next. Nights, weekends and holidays often cost more. Live-in and overnight care are usually priced differently from hourly care, sometimes a flat day rate.
The level of help counts too. Company and meal prep are one thing. Hands-on help with bathing, dressing or moving someone who is unsteady is another. Dementia care that needs extra patience may also change the quote.
Last, ask what is not in the rate. Mileage for rides, a fee for the first visit, and a charge for canceling the same day can all show up later.
How do families in Arizona pay for it?
Most families pay out of pocket. The National Institute on Aging (opens in new tab) says many older adults use savings, a pension, investment income or money from selling a home. It also says most health and disability policies offer limited long-term care benefits, if any.
Medicare has limits on paying for long-term care, as the National Institute on Aging (opens in new tab) explains. Through Medicare GUIDE, eligible families with Traditional Medicare and a dementia diagnosis can receive up to $2,500 a year of in-home respite at no cost to the family.
Arizona's Medicaid program for long-term care is the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) (opens in new tab). There are financial and health tests, so apply early, using the DE-828 application on that page.
Veterans and surviving spouses who get a VA pension may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits (opens in new tab), which add a monthly payment to the pension. You can apply online, by mail or at a VA regional office.
Many long-term care insurance policies reimburse non-medical home care. Check the policy for a waiting period.
Taxes may help as well. Ask a tax preparer whether any care costs count for you.
For local help, the Scottsdale Senior Home Care page explains what the area offers. For Maricopa County caregiver support and respite options, contact the Area Agency on Aging, Region One (opens in new tab) and ask what help is available and who qualifies.
What should you do this week?
Start with a list. Write down the hours you need, which days, and what the help is for: rides, meals, bathing, or giving you a break.
Then call three agencies. Ask each for the hourly rate, the minimum visit, any extra for nights or weekends, and how they handle a sick caregiver. Get it in writing.
Have ready your parent's address, daily routine, any dementia diagnosis, and any long-term care policy or VA papers. Ask whether the caregivers are background-checked, and whether the agency is bonded and insured.
Start small, perhaps two or three visits a week. You can add hours once you see how it goes.
What happens if you call Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale?
Call (480) 674-5400 Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 6 PM, with 24/7 coverage for emergencies. Emails get an answer in under 4 hours. We offer non-medical care, with caregivers who are seniors themselves and are background-checked. We start with a free care visit that costs nothing and carries no obligation.
Not sure which kind of help fits?
Every family's week looks different. Tell Seniors Helping Seniors® Scottsdale what yours looks like and you will get a plain answer on what would help in Scottsdale, and what it would cost, before anything is booked.
Questions families ask about the cost of in home care
What would 15 hours a week cost per month?
It depends on hours. Multiply hours a week by the hourly rate and by 4.33. At the national median of $35 an hour, 15 hours a week is about $2,273 a month.
How much is a private caregiver per hour?
Private caregivers often charge less than agencies, but you handle taxes, backup and screening yourself. Ask for the rate, and check references. An agency quote covers those tasks.
How much does a caregiver charge per day?
Some charge by the hour, so eight hours is eight times the rate. Others set a flat day or overnight rate. Ask which one applies in Scottsdale and what hours it covers.
What should a companionship quote include?
Ask for a written quote that lists the tasks included in companionship visits. The hourly rate and minimum visit still vary by agency, so get them in writing.
Will Medicare pay for a caregiver?
Do not assume Medicare will cover the home care hours you are budgeting for; check the [National Institute on Aging's payment guidance](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/long-term-care/paying-long-term-care). The exception is GUIDE respite for eligible families with Traditional Medicare and a dementia diagnosis, up to $2,500 a year.
