5 Ways To Find Home Health Care Agencies Near Me

Is your loved one recovering from a surgery or chronic illness, but wishes to receive care from the comfort of home?

Home health care, provided by home health care agencies can help your loved one recover and stay as independent as possible. They also play a vital role in ensuring that the elderly and disabled adults receive the long-term care and services they need while preserving their rights and dignity.

How do you find the best agency near you and what options are available to pay for care? Keep reading to learn more about home health care, and how to get started.

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care is medical care or skilled care services provided at home to treat a chronic condition, or help an individual recover from a surgery or an injury.

The goal of home health care is to keep you out of the hospital or skilled nursing homes, and safe at home. Care is provided by licensed professionals ls such as registered nurses, therapists, and aides.

Home health care services are intermittent (short-term), and are usually tailored to specialized care services such as:

• Wound care
• Nursing
• Diabetes management
• Pain management
• Dementia care
• Chronic condition management
• Speech therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Nutrition or intravenous therapy
• Injections
• Caregiver and patient education
• Help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing and eating from a home health aide or home caregiver

If home health care is ordered by a doctor, federal and state health insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid may cover some of the cost.

How does home health care differ from home care?

Often, both terms are confused and used interchangeably, but there is a key difference between them.

Home care has to do with non-medical services that allow older adults to age safely and independently at home. Home care is also referred to as personal care, custodial care, or homemaker services. Professional caregivers provide these unskilled services.

Home care services include:

• Assistance with daily living activities including bathing, grooming, toileting, and eating
• Companionship
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Meal preparation
• Running errands and grocery shopping
• Transportation
• Medication reminders and administering medications

Home health care has to do with skilled medical care provided at home by licensed caregivers such as registered nurses or aides.

In some cases, home care services can be included in home health care, but there are other focuses than that.

Benefits of home health care

The hallmark benefit of home health care is that it can be delivered directly to the senior’s residence — private home, assisted living home, or memory care home — eliminating the need for expensive hospital bills.

Other benefits of home health care include:

• Faster recovery from an illness, injury, or surgery from the comfort of home
• Care can be tailored to the senior’s needs
• Family members can be more involved in the care of their loved one
• Convenience, as it eliminates the need for transportation to and from medical facilities
• Flexibility; care can be scheduled for a few hours to round-the-clock
• Independence and functionality as home health care focus on reablement and rehabilitation
• Holistic care such as nutrition counseling and mental health support for improved health outcomes.

Who is Home Health Care Right For?

Home health care is for older individuals who require short-term skilled care to recover from an injury, surgery, or a chronic condition.

It could also be right for your loved one if they are “homebound” and require the help of a person, a walker, or a wheelchair to leave home. You could also be ‘homebound” if your doctor requires you to stay home as leaving home could make your condition worse.

Home health care may also be right for you if you:

• Visit your healthcare provider a lot
• Often have emergency visits to the hospital
• Have one or more chronic health conditions
• Recently had a fall
• Adjusting to a new diagnosis or medication
• Take several medications.

Typically, home health care is prescribed by your loved one’s doctor after they meet eligibility requirements for home health.

How to Pay for Home Health Care Services

There are a couple of ways you can pay for care provided by home health care agencies other than out of pocket. They include:

Medicare

If you’re an eligible medicare beneficiary, Medicare can cover the cost of home health care. However, you may have to meet some requirements to qualify.

Requirements such as:

• A doctor or a registered nurse certifying that you need home health care
• You must be “homebound”
• A Medicare-certified home health care agency offers care
• You’re certified for part-time or intermittent care not exceeding 8 hours per day or 28 hours per week

Medicare will cover home health care services such as nursing and therapy services, but will not cover personal services such as housekeeping and meal preparation.

Learn more about home health care Medicare.

Medicaid

Medicaid can pay for home health care costs and other non-medical care including personal care. Medicaid benefits vary from state to state, so the services and extent of coverage may differ.

It’s best to speak with your state’s Medicaid Office to learn more about Medicaid eligibility requirements, and how your loved one can apply.

Long-term care insurance

Private long-term care insurance typically covers care provided by home health care companies. If your loved one has private insurance, contact the provider to learn more about coverage, and how your loved one can use their insurance to pay for home health costs.

Veterans benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has programs that can aid eligible veterans in paying for home health care. If your loved one is a veteran, contact their local office or a VA social worker to learn more about what coverage entails.

How to find home health care agencies near me

If you have a doctor’s order for home health care, here are 5 ways you can find home health care facilities, and choose the best one for your beloved senior.

Doctor’s recommendation

You can get your loved one’s doctor’s recommendation for agencies for home health care near you. They may be able to give you a list of agencies that serve your area. Medicare.gov emphasizes that they must tell you whether their agency has a financial interest in any agency they provide you.

Care Compare tool

The Care Compare search engine provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid is a great tool for finding home healthcare agencies near you.

All you have to do is enter your location, and it will show you a comprehensive list of Medicare and Medicaid-certified home health care agencies in your area.

You can click on an agency to view the services they offer, and their quality and patient survey rating. These ratings help you establish if an agency is doing above average.

Additionally, you can compare at least 3 agencies simultaneously using the website.

The Care Compare tool helps you narrow down your options quickly before an in-person visit or interview with your top likely agencies.

Word-of-mouth

Word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family can quicken your search for the best home health care agency near you. Don’t hesitate to ask friends and families for referrals, then be sure to look up the home health care website, learn about their services, ask questions, and schedule a visit or interview.

The internet

You can use the internet to find the best home health company near you.

You can start by using search engines like Google or Bing to search with keywords such as “best home health care agencies near me” or “top-rated home health care services in [Your City].”

This will give you a list of agencies with their ratings and reviews, which are crucial for assessing their reputation. Websites like Yelp or Healthgrades can also offer reviews and testimonials from other clients.

Additionally, you should check out local forums or community groups on social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter where you might find recommendations and personal experiences shared by members.

Local hospitals and rehabilitation centers

Local hospitals and rehabilitation centers can be invaluable resources when searching for home health care agencies. They frequently collaborate with a range of home health providers and can offer recommendations based on their firsthand experiences with the quality of care provided.

Additionally, they understand the importance of a smooth transition from hospital to home care and often have case managers or social workers who maintain lists of reputable agencies.

These professionals can match your loved one’s specific health care needs with agencies that specialize in those areas, ensuring a personalized and tailored approach to your home health care.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Home Health Care Agency

Choosing the best home health care agency requires thoughtful consideration to ensure your loved one receives high-quality care. Here are some factors to keep in mind.

• Accreditation and Licensing: Verify that the agency is properly licensed and accredited by recognized institutions, ensuring that they meet certain standards of care and professionalism.
• Caregiver Qualifications and Training: Check the qualifications and training of the caregivers. They should be well-trained and have the necessary certifications to provide the specific type of care required.
• Services Offered: Ensure that the agency offers the specific services your loved one needs, such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or assistance with daily activities.
• Insurance and Payment Options: Understand what is covered by insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, and what must be paid out of pocket. The agency should be able to help navigate these financial aspects.
• Reputation and Reviews: Look for reviews and testimonials about the agency. You can check their Google My Business (GMB) profile if listed on GMB or other review sites such as Yelp.
• Customized Care Plans: The agency should be able to provide a care plan tailored to your loved one’s needs, preferences, and medical conditions. Regular assessments should be made to adjust the plan as needed.
• Availability: Consider the agency’s ability to provide care when it’s needed. Your beloved senior people may require around-the-clock care, while others might only need assistance for a few hours a day or week. Additionally, find out what their replacement strategy is for when a caregiver will be absent.
• Emergency Procedures: Check the agency’s procedures for handling emergencies or unexpected situations. It’s crucial to know how they will respond in the event of a medical emergency.
• Communication: Effective communication is key. The agency should have clear communication channels for patients, families, and staff to address concerns and coordinate care.
• Safety and Risk Management: Ensure the agency has policies and procedures in place to keep patients safe, including fall prevention, infection control, and medication management.
• Compatibility: Consider the compatibility of the caregiver with the care recipient. The relationship between the caregiver and your loved one is crucial for their quality of care and well-being.

Taking the time to evaluate these factors can help you choose a home health care agency that will provide the best possible care for you or your loved one.

Get Specialized Care for Your Loved One With Amy’s Eden

In 2023, many agencies are continuing to expand their service offerings to accommodate the growing demand for in-home care.

If you’re looking for the best-fit home-health care agency in Carson City, Reno, and the surrounding areas, you can stop your search here.

Amy’s Eden has over a decade of experience providing specialized medical care to improve the quality of life of older adults, with services ranging from post-operative care to chronic condition management, wound care, diabetes, and palliative/end-of-life care. We also offer home care or personal care.

We provide a caring and supportive environment for those in need. Our commitment to accessibility is evident in our dedication to providing quality care, a testament to our mission as we help those in their pursuit of better health and well-being.

Our leadership team diligently works to ensure compliance with government regulations, offering a program that meets the highest standards of care and non-discrimination.

We provide personal care and specialized care services in the homes of our clients, or our luxury assisted living homes.

Contact us today to learn about how we can help you or your loved one thrive in your twilight years.