Home health care delivers professional medical services and personal assistance in the familiar surroundings of your loved one’s home. Unlike facility-based care, professional home health care allows patients to maintain independence while receiving personalized attention from qualified healthcare professionals.
At Ascend Home Health, we understand this journey can be emotional and confusing to navigate. That’s why we’ve created this home visit resource to help you understand what to expect when arranging professional home health care services.
Home health care provides medical treatment and support services for patients:
Home health services are intended to help patients recover, regain independence and become as self-sufficient as possible. Ascend Home Health offers skilled nursing, home health aides, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to support recovery at home.
When considering home visit care options, understanding what home health care encompasses is essential for making informed decisions. Professional home health care typically includes medical monitoring, therapy services, medication management and assistance with daily activities — all customized to meet your family member’s specific needs while keeping them comfortable at home.
The benefits of choosing home health care include:
When arranging professional home health care for a loved one, knowing what to expect helps ensure a smooth transition. The home health care process typically begins with a physician’s referral and follows a structured path to deliver comprehensive care. Here’s what to expect from a first home health care visit.
The first home health care visit serves as a comprehensive evaluation. During this assessment, a registered nurse will:
This initial home visit establishes the foundation for all subsequent care, ensuring services address your family member’s unique needs. Your family member’s doctor will work with the Ascend Home Health team and your family to develop an individual plan of care based on their unique needs. Some of the services we offer include:
Professional home health care relies on a coordinated team of specialists working together to support your loved one’s well-being. Depending on specific home visit needs, your Ascend Home Health care team may include:
Navigating payment for professional home health care often raises questions about insurance coverage. Medicare does cover home health care when specific requirements are met:
Medicare typically covers:
Medicare does not cover:
For services not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance or private pay options may be available for home visits. Ascend Home Health’s team can help explain coverage options and potential out-of-pocket expenses.
Determining eligibility for professional home health care involves several factors. Generally, patients qualify for home visits when:
Hospitalization is NOT a requirement to receive home health care. Many of our patients are referred by their personal physicians.
Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans have specific criteria for home visit coverage. Our Ascend Home Health team can help navigate eligibility requirements and answer questions about qualification.
Creating an optimal environment for home health care helps maximize the benefits of each visit. Before the first home health care visit:
Proper preparation enhances communication between your family, the patient and the home health team.
Arranging professional home health care involves several important steps to ensure your loved one receives appropriate services covered by their insurance.
Taking a proactive approach helps ensure a smooth transition to home health services.
Home health care is professional medical care provided in a patient’s home. It includes skilled nursing, therapy services and assistance with daily activities. This type of care allows individuals recovering from illness, injury or managing chronic conditions to receive necessary medical attention without hospitalization or facility placement, maintaining dignity and independence in familiar surroundings.
Home health care works through a physician-directed plan delivered by a team of healthcare professionals in your home. After a doctor’s referral, an initial assessment determines specific needs. Then, scheduled visits from nurses, therapists and aides provide treatments, monitoring and education according to the care plan. The team communicates regularly with your doctor, adjusting care as needs change, with the goal of helping patients recover, gain independence or effectively manage ongoing conditions.
Patients typically qualify for home health care services when they have a medical need requiring skilled care, are considered homebound (leaving home requires considerable effort) and need part-time rather than continuous care. A physician must certify this need and create a care plan.
Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance each have specific eligibility requirements, which may include recent hospitalization or a new diagnosis requiring professional management.
Homebound status means your condition leaves you normally unable to leave your home and doing so would require a considerable and taxing effort. You are considered homebound if you are restricted in your ability to leave home without the aid of an assistive device (such as crutches, canes, walkers or wheelchairs) or without the assistance of another person.
You may leave the home as often as you need for medical treatment that cannot be provided in the home. You are allowed brief and infrequent absences from the home for some non-medical reasons, such as an occasional trip to the barber or beauty shop, to attend church, or for unique family events such as a graduation or wedding.
Yes, Medicare does cover home health care when specific criteria are met. These include: requiring skilled nursing or therapy services, being under a doctor’s care with a documented plan, receiving care from a Medicare-certified agency, being homebound and needing part-time or intermittent care. Medicare covers skilled nursing, therapy services, medical social services and part-time home health aide services, but does not cover 24-hour care, meal delivery or homemaker services when those are the only services needed.
During typical visits, Ascend’s skilled nurses:
The frequency and duration of visits vary based on medical necessity and physician orders.
The duration of home health visits varies depending on the services provided and your loved one’s specific needs. Typically:
Visit length should be sufficient to complete all necessary care and education without rushing. If you feel visits are too short or too long, discuss your concerns with your Ascend Home Health case manager to ensure your loved one receives appropriate time and attention.
Selecting the right home health care provider significantly impacts your loved one’s recovery and quality of life. With Ascend Home Health, families gain a dedicated partner in care with:
The journey through health challenges is never easy, but professional home health care provides the support families need during difficult times. By choosing Ascend Home Health, you’re ensuring your loved one receives exceptional care that prioritizes dignity, comfort and quality of life. Learn more about our specific home health care services.
Contact us or call 866.821.1212 today to discuss how we can support your family’s professional home health care needs.