When a parent or spouse can no longer be left alone safely, families usually ask two questions at once: What level of help is truly needed, and what will it cost? The answer is not one universal price. The 24 hour home care cost Palm Beach County families receive depends on the care arrangement, the number and qualifications of caregivers, the schedule, the client’s needs, and whether insurance benefits apply.
For a neutral planning benchmark, the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey reported a Florida median of $32 per hour for a non-medical caregiver. If every hour of a 24-hour schedule were billed at that statewide median, the mathematical estimate would be about $768 per day, $5,376 per week, or $23,040 for a 30-day month. This is a planning example—not a Horizon Care Services quote and not a Palm Beach County-specific rate.
| The most accurate price comes after a care assessment. A reputable agency should explain what is included, how the schedule will be staffed, and whether the proposed care is awake 24-hour coverage, overnight care, live-in care, or another arrangement. |
The phrase can describe different staffing models, and those differences matter for both safety and price. Families should never assume that “24-hour,” “live-in,” and “overnight” care are interchangeable.
Rotating 24-hour caregiver coverage
Around-the-clock coverage commonly uses rotating caregivers so someone is scheduled throughout the day and night. This may be appropriate when a person needs frequent help, cannot be left alone, experiences nighttime confusion, or requires regular assistance with mobility, toileting, meals, hydration, or personal routines.
Overnight care
Overnight care covers a defined nighttime shift. It may be enough when a client is generally safe during the day but needs help getting to the bathroom, reassurance during periods of confusion, repositioning, or assistance with a nighttime routine. The responsibilities and whether the caregiver must remain awake should be made clear in the written care arrangement.
Live-in care
Live-in care is a different arrangement in which a caregiver remains in the home for an extended period and must have appropriate opportunities for rest, meals, privacy, and sleep. It should not automatically be described as continuous awake supervision. Horizon’s team can help families compare the available scheduling models based on the client’s assessment and caregiver availability.
Families who need fewer than 24 hours can also review Horizon’s hourly home care options and increase the schedule if needs change.
The following examples use the 2025 Florida median of $32 per hour solely to demonstrate how the number of scheduled hours changes a monthly budget. Actual agency rates and monthly totals may be higher or lower.
| Example schedule | Daily estimate | Weekly estimate | 30-day estimate |
| 8 hours per day | $256 | $1,792 | $7,680 |
| 12 hours per day | $384 | $2,688 | $11,520 |
| 24 hours per day | $768 | $5,376 | $23,040 |
Planning illustration based on CareScout’s 2025 Florida median of $32 per hour. This is not a Horizon Care Services rate quote.
The care schedule is one of the biggest factors in the total monthly cost.
The number of hours and staffing model. Continuous rotating coverage typically requires more caregiver hours than a defined overnight shift or a part-time schedule.
The level of assistance. Companionship and meal preparation differ from extensive personal care, transfers, mobility support, or services requiring an appropriately licensed professional.
Caregiver qualifications. Rates can vary depending on whether the plan calls for a companion, home health aide, certified nursing assistant, or licensed nurse.
Weekends and holidays. Holiday coverage, short-notice requests, and difficult-to-staff hours may affect availability or pricing.
Location and caregiver availability. Travel distance and the number of qualified caregivers available near the client can affect how a schedule is built.
Specialized needs. Dementia-related behaviors, Parkinson’s-related mobility needs, post-hospital recovery, fall risk, or complex care plans may require additional training or supervision.
Insurance documentation. Long-term care insurance policies may require specific assessments, daily care notes, proof of assistance with activities of daily living, or an elimination period before benefits begin.
Around-the-clock support is usually considered after a significant change rather than as a first step. A hospital discharge, repeated falls, nighttime wandering, medication mistakes, unsafe transfers, or caregiver exhaustion can make a previous schedule inadequate.
A senior cannot be left alone safely during the day or night.
There is frequent nighttime confusion, wandering, or fall risk.
Toileting, transfers, or repositioning are needed throughout the night.
A spouse or adult child is trying to provide constant care and is no longer able to rest.
The family is trying to avoid an unsafe gap immediately after a hospital or rehabilitation stay.
For a fuller discussion of these warning signs, read The Importance of 24-Hour Home Care for Aging Parents.
Care costs are only one part of the decision. Families also need dependable scheduling, clear communication, appropriate caregiver matching, and a plan that can change as the client’s needs change.
Horizon Care Services coordinates private-duty care from its North Palm Beach office and serves families throughout Palm Beach County. Learn more about local care options in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and West Palm Beach.
Families elsewhere in the county can review Horizon’s complete Palm Beach County home care service area.
Generally, no. Medicare’s official home health coverage guidance states that Medicare does not pay for 24-hour-a-day care at home. It also generally does not cover custodial or personal care—such as bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom—when that is the only care needed.
Medicare may cover certain part-time or intermittent skilled home health services when a person meets its eligibility requirements, but that is different from ongoing private-duty supervision and personal care. Families should verify coverage directly with Medicare, their health plan, and the provider involved rather than assuming an around-the-clock schedule will be covered.
Private pay. Many families pay directly from income, savings, retirement funds, or contributions shared among family members.
Long-term care insurance. Eligible policies may cover some private-duty home care after benefit requirements are met. Review the daily or monthly benefit, elimination period, covered activities of daily living, and required documentation.
Veterans benefits. Some eligible veterans or surviving spouses may qualify for assistance, but eligibility and payment rules vary.
Medicaid long-term care programs. Certain Florida residents who meet financial and care-level requirements may qualify for home- and community-based support.
For more detail, review Horizon’s guide to paying for home care.
Does the quote provide awake coverage throughout the night, or is it a live-in arrangement with sleep and rest periods?
How many caregivers will rotate through the schedule?
What services and caregiver qualifications are included in the quoted rate?
Are weekends, holidays, overtime, assessments, or care-management fees handled differently?
What happens if the regular caregiver is ill or unavailable?
How often will the plan be reviewed as the client’s needs change?
Will the agency help with long-term care insurance verification and care documentation?
A useful estimate starts with the client—not a generic package. Be prepared to discuss the person’s daily routine, mobility, memory, personal-care needs, nighttime risks, recent hospitalizations, preferred schedule, home environment, and insurance policy. Those details help determine whether true 24-hour coverage is necessary or whether a carefully designed hourly or overnight schedule can provide appropriate support.
Horizon Care Services has provided licensed private-duty home care for more than 22 years. Care arrangements are personalized according to the client’s assessment, requested schedule, caregiver availability, and plan of care. Horizon serves Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. NR# 30211200 | HHA# 299994406.
Call 561-776-7757 (toll-free 877-227-3890) or contact Horizon Care Services for a complimentary, no-pressure conversation and a personalized estimate.
There is no single countywide rate. As a statewide benchmark, CareScout reported a 2025 Florida median of $32 per hour for a non-medical caregiver. At that rate, 24 hours would equal approximately $768 per day, but actual Palm Beach County agency quotes depend on the care plan, staffing model, qualifications, schedule, and availability.
No. Live-in arrangements include appropriate rest and sleep periods and should not automatically be considered continuous awake supervision. Families should ask the agency to describe the exact nighttime coverage included.
It may, depending on the policy. Coverage can depend on benefit limits, activities-of-daily-living requirements, cognitive impairment provisions, elimination periods, approved providers, and required care documentation.
Medicare does not pay for 24-hour-a-day care at home and generally does not cover personal or custodial care when that is the only care needed. Certain intermittent skilled home health services may be covered when eligibility requirements are met.
Call 877-227-3890 to discuss the client’s needs and requested schedule. Horizon can explain suitable care arrangements and provide a personalized estimate based on the assessment and caregiver availability.
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