In-home dementia care cost in Florida depends mainly on how many hours a week your loved one needs. The 2025 Florida median for a non-medical in-home caregiver was about $32 per hour. Dementia Companions charges $35 per hour for 40+ hours a week, about $6,062 a month at 40 hours; call us about shorter schedules.
This guide focuses on budgeting: turning an hourly rate into a realistic weekly and monthly figure, what changes the total, how schedules typically grow as dementia progresses, and which Florida programs and policies can help pay. For a comparison of every care setting, including assisted living and nursing homes, see our full cost of dementia care in Florida guide.
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What in-home dementia care cost looks like in Florida in 2026
The most widely used benchmark is the CareScout Cost of Care Survey (formerly part of Genworth’s cost-of-care work). Its 2025 results, released in March 2026, put Florida’s median annual cost for a non-medical caregiver at $73,216, based on 44 hours a week. That works out to about $32 per hour, below the national median of about $35 per hour, according to CareScout’s Florida release.
Medians hide a lot of variation. Rates differ by region, by agency, and by whether you hire through an agency or directly. Some providers also charge more for nights, weekends, holidays or short visits, so always ask for a full rate sheet.
Turning an hourly rate into a monthly budget
The simple formula is: hours per week × hourly rate = weekly cost. Multiply the weekly cost by 4.33 (52 weeks divided by 12 months) for an average month.
| Schedule | Hours per week | Weekly at $35 per hour | Monthly at $35 per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eight hours, five days | 40 | $1,400 | about $6,062 |
| Eight hours, seven days | 56 | $1,960 | about $8,487 |
Our rate is $35/hour for 40+ hours a week; call us about shorter schedules. Most families do not start at 40 hours. A common pattern is two or three visits a week aimed at the hardest part of the day or the family caregiver’s busiest time. Try your own numbers in our dementia care cost calculator.
What changes the total
Hours, not “level of care”
With many agencies, the biggest driver is simply the number of hours. Dementia Companions charges $35 an hour for 40+ hours a week; call us about shorter schedules. Other providers may charge more for higher-need clients, so ask.
Minimum visit length
Many agencies set a minimum shift, often a few hours, because travel time makes very short visits impractical. Our visits run from about 2 hours up to a full day.
Nights, weekends and holidays
Some providers add premiums for these. Ask whether a Saturday or a holiday costs the same as a Tuesday.
Agency or direct hire
Hiring privately may look cheaper per hour, but you may become a household employer, responsible for payroll taxes, insurance questions, background checks and backup coverage when the caregiver is sick. Our private caregiver vs. agency comparison walks through the trade-offs.
Medical needs
Companion and homemaker care is non-medical. If your loved one needs a nurse for injections, wound care or other skilled tasks, that is a different, higher-cost service. Companions can work alongside a nurse, home health or hospice.
How costs usually grow with the stages
Dementia is progressive, so most families should budget for hours to increase. The Alzheimer’s Association describes the middle stage as typically the longest, and notes that people in the late stage need around-the-clock care. A rough planning pattern looks like this:
| Stage | Typical in-home help | Example monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Early | A few hours a week for company, outings and reminders | 8 hrs/week: call us about shorter schedules |
| Middle | Several visits a week, often daily, covering the hardest hours | 20 to 30 hrs/week: call us about shorter schedules |
| Late | Long days plus family, often combined with hospice | 40+ hrs/week at $35 per hour: $6,062 or more |
These are illustrations, not predictions. Some people need little help for years; others need more early on. Revisit the budget every few months.
How Florida families pay for in-home care
Most in-home dementia care in Florida is paid privately, but several sources can help.
- Medicare: does not pay for ongoing companion or custodial care. Medicare.gov lists 24-hour care at home, homemaker services unrelated to a care plan, and personal care when it is the only care needed as not covered. It does cover short-term skilled home health for homebound patients. See our Medicare guide.
- Florida Medicaid: the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care program can cover companion, homemaker and respite services for people who qualify medically and financially, often after a waitlist.
- Long-term care insurance: policies sometimes reimburse companion or homemaker care. Check the home care section of the policy and confirm with the insurer.
- VA benefits: wartime veterans and survivors who receive a VA pension may qualify for an added monthly Aid and Attendance payment if they need help with daily activities.
- State programs: Florida’s Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging.
Dementia Companions is private-pay and does not bill Medicare, Medicaid or insurers, but we provide itemized invoices and visit notes that families can submit to a long-term care insurer. Our paying for dementia care overview covers each option in detail.
Example: building a budget in Tampa
This is an illustrative example, not a real client. A couple in South Tampa are both 80. The husband has early to middle-stage Alzheimer’s. His wife wants to keep her own medical appointments, her Wednesday bridge game and some time to rest.
- Starting schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 2pm, so 12 hours a week.
- Cost: our rate is $35/hour for 40+ hours a week, so they call us about pricing for a shorter schedule.
- Six months later: his afternoons get harder, so they shift visits to 1pm to 5pm and add Tuesday. That is 16 hours a week.
They check his long-term care policy and find it may reimburse homemaker and companion services after a 90-day elimination period, so they submit invoices and visit notes with their claim.
Five ways to stretch your budget
- Aim paid hours at the hardest time of day or the caregiver’s must-do times.
- Mix in lower-cost options, such as an adult day program on some days.
- Apply early for Medicaid or state programs, because waitlists are common.
- Check every insurance policy and veterans’ benefit before assuming none apply.
- Choose a provider without contracts or hidden fees, so you can adjust as needs change.
When cost should not drive the decision
If your loved one is in danger, such as getting lost, falling repeatedly or not eating, safety comes first. Talk to their doctor about any sudden change in confusion, appetite or mobility, which can signal a treatable problem like an infection. Then look at the budget for the level of help that is truly needed.
Watch a caregiver before you choose
Families watch video interviews like these and choose their companion. No one is sent to your parent's home until you have watched them and said yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does in-home dementia care cost per hour in Florida?
CareScout’s 2025 survey put Florida’s median for a non-medical in-home caregiver at about $32 per hour, compared with about $35 nationally. Individual agencies vary. Dementia Companions charges $35 per hour for 40+ hours a week; call us about shorter schedules.
Is 24-hour in-home dementia care affordable?
Round-the-clock care at home is expensive: 168 hours a week at the $32 Florida median would be about $5,376 a week. At that level, families often compare memory care, combine family help with paid hours, or use hospice in the late stage.
Does Medicare pay for in-home dementia care?
No, not for ongoing companion or custodial care. Medicare covers short-term skilled home health for homebound patients, hospice, and doctor and hospital care. Florida Medicaid’s long-term care program may cover some in-home services for people who qualify.
Are there hidden fees?
With some providers, yes: sign-up fees, holiday premiums or minimums. Ask for every charge in writing. Dementia Companions has no hidden fees, no markups and no long-term contracts.
Can long-term care insurance pay for a companion?
Sometimes. It depends on the policy’s wording about homemaker, companion or supervision services and on meeting its benefit trigger. Read the home care section and call the insurer. Our long-term care insurance guide explains how claims work.
Still have questions?
Talk it through with us. A free call about your family's situation, with no obligation.
Call (689) 333-6079Send us a message- Screened for dementia care experience
- Florida ADRD training before the first visit
Conclusion
In-home dementia care cost in Florida is mostly a function of hours. The 2025 state median was about $32 per hour, and our rate is $35 per hour for 40+ hours a week; call us about shorter schedules.
Plan for hours to grow over time, aim paid help at the hardest parts of the day, and check Medicaid, insurance and veterans’ benefits early.
For a quote based on your loved one’s schedule, get 3 free caregiver profiles within 48 hours or call (689) 333-6079. Learn more about our dementia companion care, $35 per hour for 40+ hours a week with no contracts.
Want a companion screened for dementia care experience?
We'll send 3-5 caregiver video profiles within 48 hours, so you can watch their video interviews before you decide. $35/hour for 40+ hours a week, no contracts.
