Guide
Home care vs. assisted living
Short answer
Home care brings a paid caregiver to your parent's own home, billed by the hour. Assisted living is a licensed residential community with meals and staff around the clock, billed by the month. Nationally, CareScout's 2025 medians are $35 an hour for a non-medical caregiver and $6,200 a month for assisted living (CareScout 2025).
The short comparison
| Home care | Assisted living | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Your parent's home | An apartment in a licensed community |
| Help available | Only during scheduled hours | Staff on site 24 hours |
| Billing | By the hour | By the month, usually including meals |
| Medicare pays? | No | No |
| Best for | Needs a few hours of help; wants to stay home | Needs help at unpredictable times, or is isolated or unsafe alone |
Doing the cost math
Home care costs grow with hours; assisted living is closer to a flat monthly rate. CareScout's monthly home care figure assumes 44 hours a week, which is about $6,673 a month nationally, close to the $6,200 national assisted living median (CareScout 2025). Round-the-clock home care costs far more than 44 hours.
See national, Texas and California figures (other states: CareScout).
Signs it's time to consider assisted living
- Your parent needs help at night or at unpredictable times.
- Falls, missed medications or wandering are happening despite help at home.
- Your parent is lonely and isolated at home.
- Caregiving hours at home have grown past what the family can afford or manage.
If memory loss causes wandering or unsafe behavior, look at memory care.
How to check a license in Texas
Texas licenses home care agencies (as home and community support services agencies with personal assistance services) and assisted living facilities (Type A, B or C). You can check any license on Texas HHSC TULIP.
Frequently asked questions
Is home care cheaper than assisted living?
For part-time help, usually. At 44 hours a week, CareScout's national home care median ($6,673 a month) is close to the assisted living median ($6,200 a month), and 24-hour home care costs much more (CareScout 2025).
Does Medicare pay for assisted living?
No. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term care in assisted living (Medicare.gov). Medicaid waivers, such as STAR+PLUS in Texas, may pay for services for people who qualify.