How to pay · Maine
How to pay for home care in Maine
The short version: home care in Maine typically runs around $45/hr when paying privately — and if money is tight, Maine has Medicaid programs that pay for care at home for people who qualify.
Typical cost
$45/hr
A typical hourly rate for agency home care in Maine. Your quote depends on the level of care, the schedule, and where in the state you live.
What that buys
With a real agency, the hourly rate covers more than the hours: a trained, background-checked caregiver, a supervisor who builds and adjusts the care plan, backup staffing when someone is sick, and insurance so nothing lands on your family. Hiring privately looks cheaper per hour — until you become the employer, the scheduler, and the backup plan.
See how we price care →Maine Medicaid programs that pay for care at home
Regular Medicaid pays for nursing homes. These programs exist so people can get the same kind of help at home instead — usually with limits on income and savings, and a care-need check. In Maine, the programs are:
Elderly & Adults with Disabilities Waiver (Section 19)
Consumer Directed Attendant Services
How it works, simply: you (or your parent) apply through the state, a nurse or social worker visits to confirm care is needed, and if approved, the program pays an approved provider for a set number of care hours each week.
Approval takes patience — weeks to months is normal — so if you think you might qualify, start the application before the need becomes urgent, and use private-pay care to bridge the gap if you can.
How caregivers are trained and vetted in Maine
Training hours
Every certified home health aide completes at least 180 hours of training in Maine — more than the 75-hour federal minimum most states use. Good agencies train past the minimum and keep training all year.
Agency oversight
Maine licenses home care agencies through the ME DHHS. Before hiring any agency, ask to see its license — a legitimate agency will show you without hesitation.
We provide care in Milwaukee County, WI
This guide is here to help wherever you live. If your family is in the Milwaukee area, we’d love to help directly — and our first visit is always free.
Browse Maine by county
Costs and programs are set statewide, but the practical questions are local. Every Maine county has its own guide — population framing, costs, Medicaid programs, and FAQs.
Other states
Good at caring for people?
We’re hiring caregivers and home health aides across Milwaukee County — pay published, schedules that respect your life.