Frequently Asked Questions
Maryland Home Care: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions Maryland families ask most about in-home care — what it costs, how to pay (private pay, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, and VA benefits), how soon care can start, and how our essentiALZ®-certified, RN-supervised caregivers work. Serving Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Charles counties.
Call 301-327-1444Getting Started
Starting home care with Vanguard
What is Vanguard Care Solutions?
Vanguard Care Solutions is a licensed Maryland Residential Service Agency (RSA-03309) that provides non-medical in-home care for seniors and adults across five Maryland counties. Our caregivers are essentiALZ®-certified in dementia care and supervised by a registered nurse (RN).
What areas do you serve?
We serve five Maryland counties — Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Charles — including communities such as Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Hyattsville, Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, Columbia, Ellicott City, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Waldorf, and La Plata.
How soon can care start?
In many cases, care can begin within 24–48 hours of your first call, and we offer same-day support for hospital discharges. Call 301-327-1444 to schedule a free in-home assessment.
How do I get started with home care?
Getting started begins with a free in-home assessment, where our team — including a registered nurse — builds a personalized care plan. We then match a trained caregiver to your loved one and schedule care around your family’s needs.
Services & Care
Our in-home care services
What’s the difference between non-medical home care and home health care?
Non-medical home care — what Vanguard provides — helps with daily living such as bathing, dressing, meals, companionship, mobility, and supervision, and does not require a doctor’s order. Home health care is skilled medical care, such as nursing or physical therapy, ordered by a physician.
What home care services does Vanguard provide?
Vanguard provides personal care, companion care, homemaker services, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, respite care, 24-hour and live-in care, and same-day hospital-to-home discharge support. All care is supervised by a registered nurse.
Do you provide dementia and Alzheimer’s care?
Yes. Our caregivers are essentiALZ®-certified through the Alzheimer’s Association and work under RN clinical supervision, so families receive specialized memory care at home — including support for wandering, sundowning, and fall risk.
Do you offer 24-hour or live-in care?
Yes. We provide both around-the-clock hourly care and live-in care for clients who need continuous support, including those with advanced dementia or a high fall risk.
Can you help the same day my parent is discharged from the hospital?
Yes — same-day hospital discharge support is one of our specialties. We coordinate directly with hospital discharge planners and can have a caregiver in the home the day your loved one returns. Call 301-327-1444.
Cost & How to Pay
What home care costs — and how to pay for it
How much does in-home care cost in Maryland?
In-home care is typically billed by the hour, with 24-hour and live-in care arranged at flat or daily rates. The 2025 CareScout (formerly Genworth) Cost of Care Survey reports a national median of about $35 per hour, and Maryland generally runs at or slightly above the national median. Because rates vary by county, hours, and level of care, we provide a personalized quote — call 301-327-1444.
How do families pay for home care?
Most families pay through one or more of four routes: private pay, long-term care insurance, Maryland Medicaid programs (if eligible), and VA benefits for veterans. We’ll help you understand which options fit your situation.
Does Medicare cover in-home care?
Generally, no. Medicare does not pay for ongoing non-medical or custodial care — help with bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom — when that is the only care needed. Medicare covers skilled home health only in narrow, physician-ordered circumstances.
Does Medicaid cover in-home care in Maryland?
It can. Maryland Medicaid offers in-home personal care through Community First Choice (CFC) and Community Personal Assistance Services (CPAS) — State Plan benefits with no waiting list for those who qualify — and the Community Options Waiver, which provides similar services but has a waiting list (the Service Registry). To begin, call Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465.
Can I use long-term care insurance to pay for home care?
Yes — many long-term care policies reimburse non-medical in-home care once your policy’s benefit triggers are met, commonly defined as needing help with at least two of six activities of daily living, or having a cognitive impairment such as dementia. Check your policy’s benefit limit and elimination (waiting) period.
Are there benefits for veterans?
Yes. VA Aid & Attendance adds a monthly amount to an eligible veteran’s or surviving spouse’s VA pension that can be applied toward in-home care. Eligibility requires the underlying VA pension plus a qualifying care need.
Caregivers & Quality
Our caregivers and quality standards
Are your caregivers licensed, screened, and supervised?
Vanguard is a licensed Maryland Residential Service Agency (RSA-03309), and our caregivers are trained, background-checked, and supervised by a registered nurse.
What makes Vanguard different from other home care agencies?
Three things most agencies can’t claim together: essentiALZ®-certified dementia care, ongoing RN clinical supervision of every care plan, and a documented same-day hospital-discharge program.
What happens if my caregiver is unavailable?
We provide backup coverage so your loved one’s care continues without interruption.
Program rules, eligibility, and costs change over time. For current details, contact the program directly: Maryland Medicaid / Maryland Department of Health and Maryland Access Point (1-844-627-5465); Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE; and VA.gov. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.
Talk With Us
Still have questions? Let’s talk.
Our care consultation is complimentary and no-pressure — with someone who understands what your family is navigating. Serving Prince George’s, Montgomery, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Charles counties.