Aging parent who needs help around the house but isn't ready for a facility. Post-surgery recovery where you need assistance for a few weeks. A family member with a chronic condition who needs consistent daily support. Home care covers a huge range - from companion care and light housekeeping to skilled nursing and wound care.
The quality difference in home care comes down to the individual caregiver, and turnover at agencies is high. Ask agencies what their caregiver retention rate is. Ask if you'll have a consistent caregiver or different people each time - consistency matters a lot for dementia patients especially. Make sure the agency does background checks and is bonded.
Non-medical home care runs $22-$35/hr in the DMV area. Skilled nursing services run higher and are often covered by Medicare after qualifying hospital stays. Ask your hospital social worker or doctor before you hire independently - they usually have vetted referrals and can help you understand what insurance covers.