How much does in-home care cost in Louisiana?

As of 2024, in-home care in Louisiana runs about $20 to $22 an hour, the lowest rate in the nation. A common weekday schedule of about 40 hours a week works out to roughly $3,500 to $3,800 a month, well below what most states pay, according to the Genworth and CareScout Cost of Care Survey (2024 Louisiana data).

If you are trying to keep a parent at home, that hourly rate is only the starting point. What matters is how it turns into a real monthly budget, what round-the-clock care actually costs, and the point where a move to a community becomes the more affordable choice. Here is the plain math.

How much does in-home care cost per hour in Louisiana?

In-home care in Louisiana costs about $20 an hour for companion and homemaker help and about $22 an hour for a home health aide, based on 2024 survey data. That is the lowest hourly rate of any state. In and around New Orleans, some agencies quote a bit higher, closer to $25 to $30 an hour.

The two rates reflect two kinds of help. Companion and homemaker care covers company, meals, light housekeeping, errands, and reminders. A home health aide adds hands-on personal care such as help with bathing, dressing, and moving safely. Your actual rate depends on the agency, the number of hours, and whether you need weekends, nights, or holidays, which often cost more. Many agencies also set a minimum number of hours per visit, so very short drop-ins may not be offered.

How do I turn an hourly rate into a monthly budget?

To estimate a monthly cost, multiply the hours you need each week by the hourly rate, then multiply by about 4.3, the average number of weeks in a month. At Louisiana rates, roughly 20 hours a week is about $1,700 to $1,900 a month, and 40 hours a week is about $3,500 to $3,800. Costs rise quickly as hours grow.

Figures use the 2024 Louisiana rate of about $20 to $22 an hour. Most families start small, a few hours a day for meals, bathing, and a safety check, then add hours as needs grow. Because you pay by the hour, the budget climbs steeply once care stretches past a normal workday.

How much does 24/7 in-home care cost, and when does a facility cost less?

Round-the-clock care at home in Louisiana often costs $15,000 or more a month, because someone is paid for every hour of the day. That is the break point most families reach: once a parent needs constant supervision, assisted living (about $5,100 a month) or a nursing home (about $7,500) usually costs far less than full-time care at home.

Assisted living and nursing home figures are 2024 Louisiana medians from the Genworth and CareScout survey. The pattern is clear: home care is at its most affordable when it is part-time. Its real value is that a parent stays in a familiar place with one-to-one attention. Many families stretch a home-care budget by combining part-time help with an adult day program before they ever weigh a move, because keeping someone safely at home is a genuine outcome, not a second-best one.

Why is in-home care cheaper in Louisiana than in most states?

Louisiana has the lowest in-home care rates in the country. At about $20 to $22 an hour in 2024, the state ranks last for cost, which here means most affordable. The national rate that year was closer to $33 to $34 an hour, and rose to about $35 an hour in the 2025 survey, so Louisiana families pay well below what a typical American family pays.

Louisiana's lower cost of living and wages keep hourly rates down across every care setting, not just at home. That is real good news for families here. Still, plan for the price to creep up: care costs rise most years, so a budget that fits today should leave a little room for next year.

What is the difference between home care and home health, and does it change the price?

Yes. Home care, also called personal care, is non-medical help with daily life: bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, and company. It is paid mostly out of pocket. Home health is skilled, doctor-ordered medical care such as nursing or physical therapy, and it is often covered by Medicare for a limited time. In Louisiana, both are licensed by the state health department.

The practical rule: home health is usually short-term, often after a hospital stay, and ends when the medical goal is met. The steady, day-to-day help that lets a parent stay home over the long run is home care, and it is the cost this page is about. Louisiana also has programs that can offset the cost of care at home, including Medicaid long-term-care programs and veterans benefits. Who qualifies is a longer topic, and a companion guide on paying for care walks through it.

Where a Louisiana advisor fits in

If you are weighing hours at home against the cost of a move, you do not have to sort it out alone. In this practice, one advisor gets to know your family and helps you compare real local pricing, whether the right answer is a few hours of help at home, an adult day program, or a community. You are never passed to a list of salespeople, and families pay nothing for the advisor's help. When home is the right place, an advisor helps you make it work; when it stops being affordable or safe, the same person helps you find the next step at your pace.

These figures are medians and averages from published surveys. Actual costs vary by agency, the type of help needed, the number of hours, and where in Louisiana you live. This is general education, not medical, legal, or financial advice.

Frequently asked questions

How much does in-home care cost per hour in Louisiana?

About $20 to $22 an hour as of 2024, the lowest hourly rate of any state, according to the Genworth and CareScout Cost of Care Survey. Companion and homemaker help sits near the lower end, and a home health aide near the higher end. In the New Orleans area, some agencies quote closer to $25 to $30 an hour.

How much does 24/7 in-home care cost in Louisiana?

Round-the-clock care at home in Louisiana often costs $15,000 or more a month, because someone is paid for every hour of the day. At that level, assisted living (about $5,100 a month) or a nursing home (about $7,500) usually costs far less than paying for care every hour at home.

How many hours of home care can I get for a month's budget?

At Louisiana rates, plan on roughly $1,700 to $1,900 a month for about 20 hours a week, and $3,500 to $3,800 a month for about 40 hours a week (2024 figures). To estimate any schedule, multiply the weekly hours by the hourly rate, then by about 4.3 weeks.

Is in-home care cheaper than assisted living in Louisiana?

For part-time help, usually yes. About 40 hours a week runs $3,500 to $3,800 a month, below Louisiana assisted living at about $5,100 (2024). But once someone needs round-the-clock care, a facility almost always costs much less than paying for care every hour at home.

What is the difference between home care and home health in Louisiana?

Home care, also called personal care, is non-medical help with bathing, dressing, meals, and company, paid mostly out of pocket. Home health is skilled, doctor-ordered medical care such as nursing or physical therapy, often covered by Medicare for a limited time. In Louisiana both are licensed by the state health department.