Home health care FAQs

Our home health care programs are provided to all age groups - from infants to the elderly.

Home health care is appropriate for conditions that need the level of professional expertise that a nurse or therapist has through education and experience.

Your home health care nurse or therapist is in continuous contact with your physician regarding the plan of care, your progress, and any changes in your condition.

When you begin home health care, a plan of care, including goals and a schedule of visits, will be developed. This plan is designed collaboratively with you, your physician, and us. The number of home visits that any patient receives, and how long each patient is on service with us, vary widely depending on the patient's condition, progress toward goals, and physician direction. Health insurance coverage may also be a factor for your consideration in length of service. Generally, home health care services reimbursable by insurance end when your condition is relatively stable and the professional services of a nurse or therapist are no longer required.

Our nurses do not carry medical supplies. Often, working with your health care insurance company, we are able to order supplies for you. These would be delivered by the supply company to your home. Your nurse or therapist will discuss your needs related to supplies on the first visit with you.

As professional clinicians, we understand that you are in the process of recovering and may not be up to your usual tasks. We've been in thousands of homes and neighborhoods throughout this area, caring for patients in every kind of life circumstance. Wear what is comfortable for you.

Home health care is usually covered by your health insurance - whether that's Medicare, Medicaid, or a commercial insurance plan. We will bill your insurance plan directly. If you have any co-pays or other special arrangements with your plan, our nurse or therapist will explain that on the first visit. For patients without health insurance, we offer a sliding scale payment plan based on income. As a non-profit agency with community support, we're committed to helping those who need home health care regardless of ability to pay.

Home health care is delivered to patients who are "homebound"- this means that it's difficult for you to leave your home and that you need considerable help from others to do so. Going to medical appointments, to day care programs, or to religious services doesn't affect your "homebound" status. But driving yourself, or going out to regular social gatherings, might be an indication that you're well enough for outpatient services.

The home health plan of care always includes your concerns, priorities and goals. You always have control about who comes into your home. Based on our education, expertise and experience, and your physician's direction, we recommend certain treatments or procedures. You always have the right to refuse any medical treatment.

We will do our best to accommodate your schedule.

Home health care is delivered through relatively short home visits, perhaps once or a few times a week, focused on the acute phase of an illness or recovery, not to fill an ongoing need. Care that does not need the skills of a nurse or therapist (for example, help with personal care or household tasks) is available through our private duty company, Commonwealth Nursing Services.

We respect the highly confidential nature of your protected health information. We also acknowledge the important role that family caregivers have and will do our best in supporting them to care for you, if we have your permission to do so. If you have concerns about anyone in particular, please let your nurse or therapist know. We respect your privacy, and maintaining and protecting it is a major priority for us.