The rate on a provider's page is only the start of the bill. Shift length, time of day, days in a row, travel and add-ons decide what the month really costs, and most of them can be changed on purpose.
Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.
Shift length and blocks
Ask how the shortest billable shift is set. Many providers bill in blocks, so a visit that runs a little past the block can cost as much as a full one. A short daily check that runs into a second block is a common surprise. Ask for the minimum in writing, then ask what happens when a visit runs over.
When the hours fall
Early mornings, evenings, overnights, weekends and holidays are often billed differently from daytime weekday hours. Ask for each rate separately. If Dad's real need falls at seven in the morning and again at eight at night, that schedule will cost more per hour than a midday block, and you should see that before you choose.
Travel, errands and add-ons
Ask whether mileage or travel time is charged, whether errands count as hours or as extra charges, and whether supplies or a reminder service cost more. A single pharmacy trip and a grocery run can be two line items. Also ask what changes if you add a visit mid-week on short notice.
Agency or direct hire
An agency bundles payroll, insurance and scheduling into its rate. Hiring directly can lower the hourly figure but makes the family the employer, with payroll, tax and insurance duties that come with it. Ask each side what they cover, then check those duties with a tax or legal professional before deciding, since this article does not give that advice.
Compare the same week
The fair comparison is the same written sample week sent to each provider. Use Dad's real hours, not the ideal ones, and ask each one to price that week in writing with every line visible. This site does not publish prices, and How We Write explains why.
What it costs: The Missouri median for non-medical in-home care is $33 an hour, per the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2025 state data tables, released March 2026. New Plan Care's standard rate is $34 an hour with a four-hour minimum, so a visit starts at $136 (newplancare.com/services).
Next move: Write one honest sample week of Dad's hours with the time of day, the days, the errands and any overnight need, then send it to each provider and ask for a line-by-line written estimate of that week only.