Non-clinical support for daily life at home
In-home care provides non-medical assistance and supervision for individuals who remain in their residence but require support with daily activities. Services are delivered in the home and may be short-term following a hospitalization, scheduled on a regular basis, or ongoing as care needs evolve.
This category addresses non-clinical caregiving support. Skilled nursing, physical therapy, and medically ordered home health services are separate categories.
Personal care assistance
Help with bathing, dressing, grooming, and hygiene — provided by trained caregivers in the home.
Mobility & transfer support
Safe assistance with moving between bed, chair, and bathroom — reducing fall risk during recovery.
Medication reminders
Non-clinical prompting for medication schedules — not administration or clinical management.
Meal preparation
Preparing meals and assisting with nutrition — particularly important after hospital discharge.
Companionship & supervision
Presence and oversight during the day or overnight — particularly for cognitive or memory concerns.
Respite for family caregivers
Scheduled relief for family members providing primary care — reducing caregiver burnout.
Light housekeeping
Laundry, dishes, and basic household tasks that support a safe home environment.
Transportation assistance
Accompaniment to medical appointments, pharmacy visits, and errands — varies by provider.
Common situations that lead families to this category
In-home care may be introduced temporarily following a health event, or gradually expanded as needs increase. Families commonly consider in-home caregiving when:
- A recent hospitalization has increased daily care needs and home health services alone are not sufficient
- Supervision coverage is inconsistent — particularly overnight or when the individual is home alone
- Cognitive or memory changes affect safety awareness — stove use, wandering, medication management
- Caregiver strain is increasing and family members need scheduled relief
- A parent or loved one has had a fall and mobility assistance is needed during recovery
- The goal is to remain at home while stabilizing a changing care situation
- Hospital discharge instructions require more oversight than family can provide alone
In-home care listings across Maine's five regions
In-home care providers are listed by region. Maine's geography matters — providers serving Portland may not serve Farmington or Machias. Select your region to view providers serving your area.
Private pay, MaineCare, and state-supported options
In Maine, families may access in-home care through private pay arrangements with providers directly, or through publicly funded programs for eligible individuals.
Maine's Assessing Services Agency
A formal assessment through Maine's Assessing Services Agency (ASA) may determine eligibility for state-supported in-home services through MaineCare or other programs. The ASA can explain available pathways and schedule a review.
Medicare generally does not cover non-medical in-home care. MaineCare (Maine's Medicaid program) may cover certain home and community-based services for eligible older adults. Private long-term care insurance policies may also include home care benefits — review your policy or contact your insurer to confirm.
What families across Maine should know
Home care for seniors in Maine — understanding the landscape
Maine has one of the oldest populations in the United States, and demand for in-home senior care has grown substantially in recent years. Families searching for home care for a parent in Maine — whether in the Portland area, the Lakes Region, Midcoast Maine, or more rural areas like Aroostook County — often encounter a fragmented landscape of providers with varying service areas, staffing levels, and intake availability.
Non-medical in-home care in Maine is provided by home care agencies, independent contractors, and adult day programs. Agencies vary in size from large regional organizations to small local operations. Some specialize in dementia and memory care supervision. Others focus on post-hospitalization recovery support or companion care for isolated older adults.
In rural Maine — including the western lakes and mountains region, Downeast Washington County, and northern Aroostook County — provider availability may be more limited and wait times longer. Families in these areas may need to contact multiple providers to find one accepting new clients.
The Maine Home Care & Hospice Association and Maine's Area Agencies on Aging can also be resources for families navigating the in-home care system in their region.