In October, MetLife published its latest annual report on home care, nursing home, assisted living and adult day care costs.  From 2010 to 2011, the survey showed that the  national average hourly rate for home health aides remained unchanged at $21.   In the Northern Virginia area, the figures also remained unchanegd from 2010.  In this area, rates range from $17 to $24 per hour, with the average being $20.  (Ready Hands Home Care currently charges $20 per hour for home care services performed by its Certified Nurse Aides.)  National average costs for other categories of long-term care rose anywhere from 4.4% to 5.6%.  A private room in a nursing home, for example, now costs an average of $229, while in Northern Virginia the figure is $277.  Download the full report here: http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/studies/2011/mmi-market-survey-nursing-home-assisted-living-adult-day-services-costs.pdf