Licensed agencies in Metro Atlanta typically charge $28 to $34 per hour for non-medical in-home care. That range covers the majority of companion care, personal care, and homemaker services provided by licensed agencies across Gwinnett, Fulton, DeKalb, Rockdale, and Henry counties. These figures reflect recent survey benchmarks — they are planning tools, not guaranteed quotes. Your parent's actual rate depends on their care needs, schedule, and the agency you choose.

The number your family pays each month depends almost entirely on how many hours you schedule — not on where you land within that $6 spread. If you're not sure whether care is needed yet, the signs to watch for are worth reading first. If you're already past that question, here is what you need to know about cost.

The short answer

The $28–$34 hourly range is the typical market rate for licensed non-medical home care agencies in Metro Atlanta. Here is what different care schedules cost per month at that range:

Hours per week Typical schedule Monthly cost range
12 hours Three 4-hour visits $1,455 – $1,770
20 hours Five 4-hour weekday visits $2,425 – $2,950
30 hours Five 6-hour weekday visits $3,640 – $4,420
40 hours Five 8-hour weekday shifts $4,850 – $5,890
56 hours Eight hours daily, seven days $6,795 – $8,250
168 hours Around-the-clock hourly coverage $20,370 – $24,740

Monthly figures calculated using 4.33 weeks per month. Almost no family pays the 168-hour figure — continuous hourly billing is not how 24/7 coverage is actually structured. Live-in arrangements and split overnight shifts change the economics significantly and are far more common for high-hours situations.

The bigger variable is hours, not rate. A family at $34 per hour for 20 hours a week pays $2,944 per month. That same family at $28 per hour for 30 hours a week pays $3,640. Hours drive monthly cost far more than a few dollars of spread in the hourly rate.

A starting point for home care hours is often determined through an in-home assessment rather than a guess. Our home care services page describes what caregivers actually spend those hours doing.

Why the hourly rate isn't what you'll actually pay

This is the section worth reading carefully. The hourly rate an agency quotes you is not always what you'll end up paying per hour of actual care — and the gap can be meaningful.

Minimum shift requirements. Most licensed agencies in Metro Atlanta require a minimum shift of three to four hours per visit. If your parent needs 90 minutes of help in the morning, you're paying for three to four hours regardless. A $26-per-hour rate with a four-hour minimum costs more for that 90-minute task than a $30-per-hour rate with a two-hour minimum. Always ask what the minimum is before comparing rates.

Holiday and overnight differentials. Most agencies charge 1.25x to 1.5x their standard rate on major holidays, and a separate differential for overnight shifts — typically defined as shifts that start or end between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. If your parent needs coverage on a holiday or a caregiver to stay through the night, the effective hourly rate is higher than the one you were quoted.

Mileage and transportation billing. Some agencies charge separately when a caregiver drives a client to appointments, errands, or activities — either a per-mile rate or a flat fee added on top of the hourly rate. Worth asking about directly if your parent relies on a caregiver for rides.

Assessment or intake fees. A small number of agencies charge for the initial in-home assessment or the care plan development, or both. Most licensed agencies in this market do not — but confirm before scheduling one.

Couples and shared-care rates. If both parents live in the same home and both need support, ask whether the quoted rate covers one client or whether there is an additional charge for the second person. Agencies handle this differently.

Rate escalation clauses. Some service agreements include annual rate adjustments tied to a cost-of-living index or a fixed percentage. If you're planning for an ongoing care relationship, ask whether the initial rate is guaranteed for any period and how future increases work.

None of these are hidden in the sense of being concealed — they're typically in the service agreement. But they rarely surface in the first phone call, and they affect what you actually pay each month in ways the quoted hourly rate doesn't capture.

What moves your rate up or down

Within the $28–$34 range, where a specific quote lands depends on what the care actually involves.

Hands-off homemaker tasks — laundry, light housekeeping, errands, meal preparation — and hands-on personal care tasks — bathing, dressing, grooming, incontinence care — were historically priced differently by most agencies. Roughly two-thirds of agencies now charge the same rate for both, according to Genworth/CareScout 2024 survey data. But not all have converged. Confirm whether your parent's specific needs fall under a different tier.

What consistently moves rates toward the higher end of the range: two-person assists for transfers, active dementia supervision, scheduled incontinence care, short-notice starts, weekend and overnight coverage, and visits at the minimum shift threshold. What tends to keep rates toward the lower end: predictable recurring schedules, longer shifts, weekday-only coverage, and minimal hands-on ADL support.

Cost across Metro Atlanta counties

Metro Atlanta's care market operates mostly on a unified rate structure — most licensed agencies quote a single metro-wide rate rather than separate rates by county. The variation that does exist tends to reflect caregiver supply and travel geography rather than a formal per-county pricing tier.

Gwinnett County is large and spread out. A caregiver serving a client in Buford travels a meaningfully different distance between shifts than one serving a client near Lawrenceville. Agencies quoting a flat metro-wide rate absorb that travel variance rather than billing it as a mileage add-on. For a county this size, that's worth understanding when comparing quotes.

DeKalb County spans a significant geographic range — from Decatur in the west to Stonecrest and Lithonia in the east. Families in inner DeKalb zip codes tend to have more agency options to compare; those in the eastern corridor may have a smaller pool. The metro rate range applies across both.

North Fulton County — Alpharetta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, and Milton — has a relatively dense caregiver supply for a suburban area, which gives families here a strong field of licensed agencies to compare. Note that Harmony Angels serves North Fulton only and does not serve Atlanta proper or South Fulton.

Rockdale County is compact and community-centered. Agencies operating in Conyers typically do so as part of a broader metro service area rather than as Rockdale-only providers. The metro rate range applies; the number of agencies to compare is smaller than in Gwinnett or Fulton.

Henry County — McDonough, Stockbridge, and Locust Grove — is one of metro Atlanta's fastest-growing counties. The drive from the urban core to the southern end of Henry can be significant, and agencies that do operate here typically quote the same metro-wide rate and absorb the travel cost.

How home care compares to the alternatives in Georgia

The comparison that matters most for most families is home care versus assisted living, not home care versus a nursing home. Here is how the costs stack up using Georgia-specific survey benchmarks from Genworth and CareScout.

Care setting Monthly cost
In-home care, 12 hrs/week $1,455 – $1,770
Adult day health, Atlanta area (~$90–$105/day, 5 days/week) ~$1,950 – $2,280
In-home care, 20 hrs/week $2,425 – $2,950
In-home care, 30 hrs/week $3,640 – $4,420
Assisted living, Georgia median ~$4,000 – $4,500
In-home care, 40 hrs/week $4,850 – $5,890
Nursing home, semi-private, Georgia ~$7,800 – $8,500

Below roughly 30 hours of care per week, in-home care is usually the less expensive option — and the option most people prefer when staying home is feasible. Above 40 hours per week, monthly costs begin to converge with assisted living rates. At that point, the decision becomes less about price and more about what setting actually works best for your parent.

Home care does not always win on cost at higher hours. The honest version of this comparison acknowledges that. What home care consistently offers, regardless of where costs land, is the ability for a parent to remain in their own home with a caregiver they know.

Who actually pays for it

Private pay is the most common arrangement. Most families pay for non-medical home care directly — from savings, pension income, Social Security, or a combination. This is what Harmony Angels is structured around.

Long-term care insurance. If your parent has a qualifying LTC policy, it may cover a significant portion of monthly costs once benefit triggers are met — typically two or more activities of daily living. Harmony Angels accepts qualifying LTC insurance. If your parent has a policy, bring the documents to your free in-home assessment. Coverage amounts and elimination periods vary widely by policy, so it's worth reviewing together before assuming what's covered.

VA Aid and Attendance. Veterans and surviving spouses who meet eligibility criteria may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance benefits, which can be applied toward the cost of in-home care. This benefit is underutilized and worth pursuing if it applies.

Medicare does not cover ongoing non-medical custodial care — the bathing help, meals, companionship, and daily living support that home care agencies provide. It covers short-term skilled nursing or therapy services for homebound patients under a physician's order. That distinction matters enormously when families are trying to plan financially. Our post on the difference between non-medical home care and home health explains clearly what Medicare does and does not pay for.

Georgia Medicaid waiver programs. Georgia's CCSP (Community Care Services Program) and SOURCE programs can help income-eligible seniors receive in-home services through the Medicaid waiver system. Harmony Angels is a private-pay agency and does not participate in Medicaid programs. If your parent's financial situation makes Medicaid the most realistic path, your local Area Agency on Aging can help identify participating providers and navigate the eligibility process — we'd rather point you in the right direction than leave you without a clear next step.

For a complete overview of how billing works and what different care plans typically involve, see our Paying for Care page.

How to compare quotes without getting fooled

The lowest hourly rate and the lowest monthly bill are not the same thing. An agency charging $30 per hour with a four-hour minimum costs more per visit than an agency at $34 per hour with a two-hour minimum, for any visit shorter than four hours.

The worksheet linked below is designed to help you do an apples-to-apples comparison across agencies — accounting for shift minimums, differentials, and any fees beyond the hourly rate — and translate quoted rates into actual estimated monthly costs for your parent's specific schedule.

Download the Metro Atlanta Home Care Cost Worksheet (PDF, 15 KB) — free, no email required

Our post on how to choose a home care agency covers the questions worth asking on the first call — caregiver consistency, backup coverage, and communication, alongside pricing. Worth reading alongside this one.

What a higher rate should actually buy you

If one agency is notably more expensive than another, it's reasonable to ask what you're getting for the difference. These are the factors that justify a premium — and the questions to ask.

Employed W-2 caregivers, not independent contractors. A registry model places caregivers who are technically self-employed — which means your family takes on employer-side liability, workers' compensation exposure, and the responsibility for taxes. An agency that employs its caregivers on W-2 absorbs those risks. Ask directly: "Are your caregivers W-2 employees or independent contractors?"

Bonding and insurance. A bonded and insured agency protects your family in the event of a theft allegation, property damage, or injury on the premises. Most reputable licensed agencies carry this coverage. Ask for confirmation.

Background checks. Ask what the check involves — criminal, reference verification, employment history — and whether it's completed before placement.

Minimum experience requirements. Some agencies hire entry-level workers and train on the job. Others require a minimum number of years of caregiving experience before placement. The answer affects who shows up at your parent's door.

Guaranteed backup coverage. What happens when a scheduled caregiver calls out sick? "We'll try to find someone" and "We notify you and dispatch a backup caregiver" are meaningfully different answers. The second one is what you want.

RN oversight and care plan review. The depth of clinical supervision varies across licensed agencies. Agencies with registered nurse involvement in care planning and ongoing supervision offer an additional layer of accountability that matters, especially for higher-needs clients.

Caregiver consistency. Rotating staff is cheaper to administer and harder on your parent. An agency that commits to the same caregiver on a consistent schedule — and explains specifically how they maintain that through callouts and schedule changes — is worth a premium.

Harmony Angels holds Georgia PHCP license #PHCP013222. You can read more about our standards and approach on our About Us page.

Frequently asked questions

How much does 24-hour home care cost in Georgia?

Continuous around-the-clock coverage at hourly rates would work out to roughly $20,370–$24,740 per month in Metro Atlanta — though almost no family structures care that way. Live-in arrangements and split overnight shifts are how 24/7 coverage is actually delivered, and the economics change significantly. A care coordinator can walk through what a high-hours plan would look like for your parent's specific situation.

Does Medicare pay for in-home care in Georgia?

No. Medicare does not cover ongoing non-medical custodial home care — the bathing help, meal preparation, companionship, and daily living support that agencies like Harmony Angels provide. Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing or therapy ordered by a physician for a homebound patient. Those are different services, paid for differently, and they can run simultaneously when both are needed.

Is home care cheaper than assisted living?

Below roughly 30 hours of care per week, usually yes. Georgia's assisted living median is $4,000–$4,500 per month. At 30 hours of in-home care per week, you're looking at $3,640–$4,420. Above 40 hours per week, the costs begin to converge and the decision becomes about preference and setting rather than price.

What is the minimum number of hours most agencies require?

Most licensed agencies in Metro Atlanta require a minimum shift of three to four hours per visit. Some require more. This affects your monthly total significantly if your parent only needs 90 minutes of assistance at a time — ask about the minimum before you compare rates.

Does long-term care insurance cover in-home care?

Many LTC policies cover non-medical in-home care services once the benefit triggers are met — typically two activities of daily living. Coverage amounts, elimination periods, and daily benefit limits vary widely. Harmony Angels accepts qualifying LTC insurance. Bring your policy to your free in-home assessment and we'll review it together.

Why do agencies charge more than hiring a caregiver privately?

The agency rate includes employer costs that a private hire shifts entirely to your family: payroll taxes, workers' compensation insurance, and unemployment coverage. It also includes background screening, ongoing supervision, backup coverage when a caregiver calls out, and the liability protection of a bonded and insured organization. The premium is real. So is what it covers.

There is no formula for getting care costs exactly right before you know what your parent actually needs. What you can do is get close — understand the market range, know which questions move the number, and go into conversations with agencies prepared to compare monthly costs accurately rather than just hourly rates.

If you're ready to take the next step, we offer a free in-home assessment — no commitment, no pressure. A care coordinator will come to your parent's home, learn about their situation, and give you an honest picture of what kind of support would actually help. You can read about what happens on that first day of care before you decide.

Request your free in-home assessment

Or call us directly: (470) 942-3244

The cost figures in this post are benchmarks drawn from the CareScout/Genworth Cost of Care Survey (2024–2025) and are intended for planning purposes only. They are not quotes and do not represent Harmony Angels' specific rates. Your parent's care plan and associated costs are determined through an RN assessment. At Harmony Angels Home Care, we provide a free RN assessment for eligible clients.