Free · Neutral · Built on official data
What kind of care are you looking for?
Families mix these up all the time, and the difference decides who pays. Pick the one that sounds right, or take the one-minute quiz. Each shows who it's for, who usually pays and what it costs where you live.
Home care
Private payA caregiver comes to the home to help with bathing, dressing, meals, errands, companionship and supervision for memory loss. It is non-medical.
- Who it's for
- Someone who is safe at home but needs hands-on help or company, from a few hours a week up to 24/7.
- Who pays
- Mostly families, out of pocket. Also long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance, and Medicaid waiver programs for people who qualify. Medicare doesn't pay for it when it's the only care needed.
Home care runs about $35 an hour nationally costs by state
See home care options →Home health
Usually MedicareSkilled medical care at home ordered by a doctor: nurses and physical, occupational or speech therapists, often after a hospital stay. Visits are short and part-time.
- Who it's for
- Someone who is homebound and needs skilled care for a while.
- Who pays
- Medicare, for people who qualify. You pay nothing for covered home health services. Medicaid and private insurance also cover it.
Usually $0 with Medicare if you qualify. Medicare.gov
See home health options →Assisted living
Private payAn apartment in a licensed community with meals, activities and help with daily tasks, with staff on site around the clock.
- Who it's for
- Someone who can't safely live alone but doesn't need nursing-home care.
- Who pays
- Mostly private pay. Medicare doesn't pay for it. In Texas, the STAR+PLUS Medicaid waiver can pay for assisted living services for people who qualify.
Assisted living runs about $6,200 a month nationally costs by state
See assisted living options →Memory care
Private payAssisted living with a secured setting and staff trained in Alzheimer's and other dementias. In Texas, memory care is assisted living that holds a state Alzheimer's certification.
- Who it's for
- Someone with dementia who wanders, gets confused about time and place, or needs supervision all day.
- Who pays
- Mostly private pay, plus long-term care insurance. Medicaid waivers may help in some states.
CareScout doesn't report memory care separately. For comparison, assisted living runs about $6,200 a month nationally costs by state
See memory care options →Independent living
Private paySenior apartments or communities with amenities and social life. Care is not included.
- Who it's for
- An active older adult who wants community and no home upkeep.
- Who pays
- Private pay.
Cost not reported by CareScout. Ask each community.
See independent living options →Hospice
Usually MedicareComfort care for a terminal illness, usually at home, with a team that includes nurses, aides, social workers and chaplains.
- Who it's for
- Someone whose doctor certifies a life expectancy of 6 months or less and who chooses comfort care over treatment to cure.
- Who pays
- Medicare Part A, for people who qualify. You pay nothing for hospice care from a Medicare-approved provider (small copays may apply for drugs and respite care).
Usually $0 with Medicare if you qualify. Medicare.gov
See hospice options →Not sure? Help me decide
Five yes-or-no questions, about a minute. Your answers stay in your browser.
We'll suggest the type of care that fits and explain why.
Take the quiz →
- Neutral listsNobody pays to be listed or moved up.
- Official dataCMS, California CDSS and CareScout, with dates.
- Free for familiesNo sign-up needed to browse.
- Rankings aren't for salePaid placement never changes Medicare listings, no one can pay to rank higher, and anything paid is labeled.
Texas and California
Every state-licensed home care agency and assisted living facility in California (CDSS data), listed free and alphabetically. Texas Medicare home health agencies are here now, and Texas home care and assisted living listings are coming soon. Florida launches January 1, 2027.
Our promise
Medicare care is never for sale.
Medicare home health listings, and hospice listings when we add them, are ranked only by CMS star ratings and other public data. No home health or hospice agency can pay us, and those pages carry no ads or partner links.
Your information. Browsing asks for nothing. If you ask us to connect you with a provider or service, we share your details only with the one we name to you at that moment. We never sell personal information, and we never share anything with the Medicare agency our owner currently owns. Privacy
Guides for families
Common questions
What is the difference between home care and home health?
Home care is non-medical help with daily activities, usually paid privately. Home health is skilled medical care at home ordered by a doctor, usually covered by Medicare for people who are homebound and qualify.
Is HomeCareFinder free?
Yes. It is free for families and asks for no personal information.
How are listings ordered?
Medicare home health agencies are ranked only by CMS star ratings and other public data; private-pay listings are A–Z. No provider can pay to rank higher.
Quick facts: Not sure whether your parent needs home care, home health, assisted living or memory care? Compare who each is for, who pays and what it costs in your state, then see licensed options.