In-home care services
Homemaker services for seniors: meals, housekeeping and errands
Homemaker services keep a home running when an older adult can still look after themselves but can no longer keep up with the house: meals, laundry, light housekeeping, shopping and errands. It is one of the lowest-cost ways to stay independent at home.
What homemaker services include
- Planning and cooking meals, and stocking the kitchen
- Laundry, changing beds and light housekeeping
- Grocery and pharmacy shopping, mail and errands
- Taking out trash, watering plants, helping with pets
- Reminders about appointments and bills for the family to handle
What it does not include
Homemaker aides do not provide hands-on personal care or medical care, and they usually do not do heavy cleaning, moving furniture or yard work. If your loved one also needs help bathing or dressing, ask for personal care in the same visit.
Choosing a homemaker agency
Ask whether homemakers are employees, how they are screened and insured, and what tasks are included in the hourly rate. Ask for a written task list, and whether the same person will come each week.
What homemaker services costs
The national median for in-home care is about $35 an hour (CareScout 2025), roughly $3,033 a month for 20 hours a week and $6,067 for 40 hours. Pure homemaker visits are sometimes priced lower than personal care, but pricing differs by agency. Rates by state are on our cost of care page, and the paying for care guide covers private pay, long-term care insurance, VA benefits and Medicaid waivers.
Find in-home care agencies near you
Enter a city or ZIP code, or browse every state. Each listing shows its public rating and, where the state publishes a roster, the license number and the date we checked it.
Questions about homemaker services
Can a homemaker help with meals for special diets?
They can follow a meal plan from the family or a dietitian, but they do not create medical diets.
Is homemaker service the same as a housekeeper?
Not quite. A housekeeper cleans. A homemaker aide also shops, cooks and keeps an eye on how the person is doing.
How do I keep the cost down?
Book the tasks you need rather than long visits, and ask for a care plan that groups errands and meals into one visit.