Assisted Living vs. In-Home Care: Comparing Costs in Melbourne, FL
For many Space Coast retirees, home means a house they chose for its light, its yard, or its short drive to the beach. Wanting to stay there as long as possible is natural, and in-home care can help. But as a parent needs more hours of help, the monthly cost of care at home rises quickly, and in Brevard County it reaches the cost of assisted living sooner than many families expect. This guide compares 2025 figures, shows how hours change the math, and explains how public programs fit in.
The 2025 numbers
CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey reports these medians for the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area (CareScout Cost of Care tool):
| Type of care (Brevard County area, 2025) | Median cost |
|---|---|
| Home health aide, hourly | $32 an hour |
| Home health aide, 44 hours a week | $6,149 a month |
| Assisted living, private one-bedroom | $5,925 a month |
Statewide, Florida's 2025 medians were $32 an hour for a home health aide and $5,610 a month for assisted living (Genworth and CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey summary).
In Brevard, full-time home care costs a little more than the assisted living median, about $224 a month, before housing, food, utilities, insurance, and storm preparation.
How costs change with hours
The monthly home care figure assumes 44 hours a week. Using the $32 hourly median:
| Hours of home care per week | Approximate monthly cost |
|---|---|
| 10 hours | About $1,386 |
| 20 hours | About $2,771 |
| 44 hours | $6,149 (survey figure) |
| 60 hours | About $8,314 |
| Around the clock | About $23,000 or more |
These estimates multiply the hourly median by hours and by about 4.33 weeks a month. Agencies may set minimum visit lengths or charge more for nights, weekends, and holidays.
What each option includes
In-home care
- Help with bathing, dressing, and personal care
- Light housekeeping and meal preparation
- Companionship and reminders
- Help only during scheduled hours
At home, your parent still pays for the mortgage or rent, property taxes, homeowners and flood insurance, utilities, groceries, and repairs.
Assisted living
- A private or shared suite
- Three meals a day and snacks
- Help with personal care and medications
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Activities and social time
- Staff available around the clock
- An emergency plan and backup power for storms
A worked example
A Melbourne mother needs help every morning and evening with bathing, dressing, and medications, about four hours a day, seven days a week. That is 28 hours a week, roughly $3,880 a month at the $32 median. Add property taxes, insurance, utilities, food, and upkeep, and her total can approach or pass the $5,925 assisted living median, which includes meals, housekeeping, and overnight staff. If she starts needing help at night, home care quickly costs more.
When in-home care makes sense
- Your parent needs a few hours of help a day
- Your parent is safe alone the rest of the time
- Family members nearby can fill the gaps
- The home is safe and accessible, with a workable storm plan
When assisted living may make more sense
- Help is needed at unpredictable times or overnight
- Your parent is lonely or isolated
- Home and yard upkeep has become a burden
- Family caregivers are worn out
- Hurricane preparation and evacuation would be hard to manage
- Home care hours are approaching the cost of assisted living
How Medicare and Medicaid fit in
Medicare can cover part-time skilled home health care for homebound people who qualify, but not ongoing personal care alone, and not assisted living (Medicare, home health services).
Florida's SMMC Long-Term Care program can provide services to eligible people at home or in assisted living, including personal care, homemaker services, adult day care, respite, and assisted living facility services, for people who are Medicaid eligible and need a nursing home level of care (Florida Department of Elder Affairs, SMMC LTC program). In assisted living, it does not cover room and board.
See our guide to paying for assisted living in Melbourne.
Hidden costs at home
- Grab bars, ramps, or a walk-in shower
- A medical alert system
- Hurricane shutters, a generator, and storm supplies
- Meal delivery or extra groceries
- Rides to appointments, the pharmacy, and the grocery store
- Lost income for family caregivers
The family caregiver's share
In many Brevard families, a spouse or adult child provides much of the care without pay. When comparing costs, estimate honestly how many hours family members provide, and what it would cost to replace them if a caregiver got sick or simply could not continue. A plan resting on one exhausted person is fragile.
Questions for a home care agency
- What are your rates for weekdays, nights, weekends, and holidays?
- Is there a minimum visit length?
- How are aides screened, trained, and supervised?
- What happens if an aide is sick, or during a hurricane?
- Can the same aide come regularly?
Thinking beyond cost
Cost is important, but it is not the only factor. Consider your parent's safety, social life, and wishes, as well as the health of family caregivers. Many people value staying in a familiar home; others find that assisted living brings relief from running a household and the worry of storm season, along with new friendships at meals and activities. Our article on signs it may be time for assisted living may help.
Mixing options
Some families combine a few hours of home care with family help, an adult day program, and occasional respite stays in assisted living. Respite gives caregivers a true break and lets a parent try community living without a long-term commitment; see our guide to respite care in Melbourne. Senior Resource Alliance's Elder Helpline, 1-800-963-5337, can explain local services (Senior Resource Alliance).
Revisit the plan
Needs change. Many families start with a few hours of help and revisit the plan every few months, or after any fall or hospital stay. Setting a regular check-in helps the family notice when needs are growing, before a crisis forces a rushed decision.
Talk with Hibiscus Court
Hibiscus Court, at 540 East Hibiscus Boulevard in Melbourne, offers assisted living, memory care, and respite. Please call (321) 447-2934 to compare costs with your parent's current care at home.
Frequently asked questions
Is in-home care cheaper than assisted living in Melbourne?
At part-time hours, yes. At full-time hours, no: in 2025, 44 hours a week of home care had a Brevard-area median of $6,149 a month, compared with $5,925 for assisted living.
How much is home care per hour in Brevard County?
CareScout's 2025 survey reports a median of $32 an hour for a home health aide in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville area.
Does Medicare pay for home care?
Medicare can cover part-time skilled home health care for homebound people who qualify, but not ongoing personal care alone.
Does Florida Medicaid pay for in-home care?
The SMMC Long-Term Care program can provide in-home services for eligible people who need a nursing home level of care.