Match the need to the hours
Rather than guessing, start from what actually needs covering. Most families fall into one of these levels, and it is normal to move up over time.
| If your loved one... | Typical hours | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Is mostly independent but needs meals, errands and company | 8 to 12 hours a week | About $1,150 to $1,900 |
| Needs daily help with bathing, dressing and medications | 15 to 25 hours a week | About $2,300 to $4,300 |
| Is recovering from surgery or a hospital stay | 25 to 40 hours a week | About $3,800 to $6,900 |
| Cannot be safely left alone, or needs overnight help | Live-in or 24-hour | Flat daily rate |
Costs use companion and personal care rates of 32 to 40 dollars an hour. See the full rate breakdown or price your own plan.
A simple worksheet: add up the hours that matter
Walk through a normal week and count the moments that are genuinely hard or unsafe alone. Each usually maps to a block of care.
- Mornings: Is getting up, bathing and dressing safe and reliable? A 2 to 3 hour morning visit covers it.
- Meals: Are they eating real, regular meals? Weight loss and empty fridges are a sign to add midday hours.
- Medications: Missed or doubled doses mean a daily check-in, even a short one, earns its keep.
- Afternoons and sundowning: For dementia, late-day agitation often needs steady presence from mid-afternoon on.
- Nights: Falls, wandering or frequent bathroom trips at night point toward overnight or live-in care.
If you are not sure a parent needs help at all yet, our 12 signs a parent needs help guide is the place to start.
When hourly stops making sense
Hourly care is the most economical choice right up until the hours pile up. Once someone needs more than about 10 to 12 hours of help a day, or needs someone there overnight, a flat daily live-in rate costs less than stacking hourly visits. That is the moment to look at 24-hour and live-in cost.
Start small, adjust freely
You do not have to get the number exactly right on day one. Because our minimum is a 4-hour visit with no contract, most families begin with a modest plan, then add or trim hours with 48 hours notice as they learn what works. The goal is never to sell you more hours. It is to find the smallest plan that keeps your loved one safe.
How many hours of home care does the average senior need?
It ranges widely. Many families start with 8 to 20 hours a week: a few visits for meals, bathing, medication reminders and companionship. After a hospital stay or with early dementia, 20 to 40 hours a week is common. Advanced needs or unsafe-alone situations move toward live-in or 24-hour care. The right number is the fewest hours that keep your loved one safe and well, which usually grows over time.
What is the minimum number of hours you can book?
Our minimum visit is 4 hours, which is among the most flexible in the Las Vegas Valley. There is no contract and no minimum number of weeks. You can add or reduce hours with 48 hours notice, so you pay only for what you actually need.
How many hours a week is 4 hours a day?
Four hours a day, five days a week is 20 hours a week. At companion rates that is roughly 2,800 to 3,100 dollars a month; at personal care rates, about 3,000 to 3,500 dollars. Four hours a day, seven days a week is 28 hours a week. Use our cost calculator to price any combination.
When should we switch from hourly to live-in care?
When someone needs more than about 10 to 12 hours of help a day, or needs someone present overnight, a flat daily live-in rate becomes cheaper than stacking up hourly visits. Below that, hourly care is more economical because you pay only for the hours used.