There are two types of in-home care:
- Home Health Care
- Home health care includes nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and a home health aide, if needed, that are provided in the home for an illness or injury. A physician’s order is required to start home health care. To qualify for home health care, a person must be considered homebound. Homebound means a person does not have the ability to leave their home for outpatient treatment/services. Home Health care is usually covered by Medicare.
- Companion Care
- Companion care sometimes called private duty care does not require a doctor’s orders. It may be covered by long term health insurance but it is not covered by Medicare.
Here are a few Home Health Care Agencies that provide care in our area:
- Amedisys Home Health
- At Home Care
- Bayada Home Health
- Brookdale Home Health
- Encompass Home Health
- Intrepid USA Healthcare Services
- Riverside Home Health
- Sentara Home Health
Prior to selecting one of these agencies you may want to consider the following questions:
- How soon will Home Health services (Nursing, PT, OT, ST, and/or Home Health Aide) come out to complete an evaluation?
- Does the Home Health agency provide daily wound care, IV’s and nursing education and teaching to the family and/or patient?
- How is Home Health’s communication between the agency, resident, and family?
- Will the Home Health agency provide the same nurse, PT, OT, ST or Home Health Aide in order to build rapport with that patient who has been discharged?
- Will the Home Health agency reach back out to the SNF if there is a change in condition to determine if they can be readmitted rather than return to hospital?
- What insurance companies do the Home Health agencies accept?
- Do they meet my special needs, like language or cultural?
- Have staff at night and weekends for emergencies?
Here are a few of the Companion Care / Private duty care agencies in our area:
- Bayada Assistive Care
- Bay Health Division of Bay Aging
- Caring Touch Home Care Services
- Comfort Keepers
- Home Care Assistance
- Saving Grace Home Care
Prior to selecting one of these agencies you may want to consider the following questions:
- How soon will they come to my home for an evaluation of my needs and how soon will their staff begin my assistance?
- Will they meet my special needs like language or cultural preferences?
- Will they find staff compatible with my personality?
- Will their staff be able to assist with all of my personal care needs, like meal preparation, bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, etc.?
- Do they do criminal background checks and require negative drug screening for their staff?
- What are their minimum hours and what do they charge?
- If I need overnight care will their staff stay in my room, awake or asleep?
The following staff have brochures with information about each of these agencies, so please feel free to reach out to them if you would like to have a brochure.
- Britney Lowe, Medical Care Coordinator for Independent Living, 757-564-1100
- Kimberly Mitchell, Resident Services Social Worker for Assisted Living, 757-565-6538
- Brittany Austin, Social Services/Discharge Coordinator for Health and Rehabilitation Center, 757-253-9715