Skilled nursing at home
Skilled nursing means a licensed nurse visits you at home to care for a health problem your doctor is treating. Your doctor orders the visits. The nurse gives care, watches for changes, and teaches you and your family what to do between visits.
Updated
Who it is for
Home nursing is for people who are homebound and need care that a nurse must give or teach. You may need it if:
- You just came home from the hospital or a rehab facility.
- You have new medicines, or many medicines to keep straight.
- You have heart failure, COPD, diabetes, or another illness that needs close watching.
- You have a wound, a drain, a catheter, or an IV line.
- You had surgery and need help with your recovery at home.
What our nurses do
- Check your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, weight, and blood sugar.
- Go over all your medicines with you and help you take them safely.
- Care for wounds and change dressings.
- Give shots. In Texas, Colorado, and Michigan, they also give IV medicines and care for IV lines. See infusion therapy.
- Draw blood for lab tests, when your doctor orders it.
- Teach you and your family about your illness, the warning signs, and what to do.
- Keep your doctor updated and tell them about changes.
What a visit looks like
The first visit is the longest. A nurse or therapist asks about your health, looks at your medicines, and checks your home for safety. Then they make a care plan with you and your doctor.
Later visits are shorter, usually under an hour. The nurse checks how you are doing, gives care, and teaches the next step. Before leaving, the nurse tells you what to do until the next visit.
Have your medicine bottles, discharge papers, and insurance card ready for the first visit. See what to expect from home health care.
Who is on your team
A registered nurse (RN) leads your nursing care. A licensed practical or vocational nurse (LPN or LVN) may also visit. They work under the RN’s plan.
If your doctor orders it, therapists, a medical social worker, or a home health aide can join your care.
How often a nurse visits
Your doctor’s orders set how often a nurse comes and for how long. Visits are often closer together at first. They spread out as you get better.
Home health is part-time care. A nurse does not stay all day. Learn more in how long does home health care last?
Conditions we often help with
- Home health for heart failure (CHF): Nursing visits, daily weights, and medicine help to catch fluid build-up early.
- Home health for COPD: Inhaler and oxygen teaching, breathing techniques, and a plan for flare-ups.
What it costs
With Original Medicare, you pay $0 for covered home health visits. You must be homebound and need part-time skilled care, and your doctor must order it. Medical equipment, like a walker, costs 20% after your Part B deductible. Source: Medicare.gov.
Medicare Advantage and other health plans cover home health too. They may need to approve care before it starts, or ask you to use an agency in their network. They may charge a copay.
We check your coverage before care starts. See the plans we accept and does Medicare cover home health care?
When nursing care ends
Care ends when you reach the goals in your plan. It also ends if you no longer need a nurse or are no longer homebound.
You will get a written notice before Medicare-covered care ends. If your health changes later, your doctor can order care again.
How to start
- Ask your doctor if home health is right for you. In the hospital, ask the discharge planner.
- Tell them you want Adaptive Home Health. The choice of agency is yours.
- Your doctor sends us an order. We check your coverage and call you to set up the first visit.
We offer this care in Texas (Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Central Texas), Colorado (Denver), Michigan (Detroit), and Nevada (Las Vegas). Questions? Call us at 214-440-1394 (Texas), 303-597-0505 (Colorado), 248-607-6698 (Michigan), or 702-450-1855 (Nevada).
Doctors and discharge planners: see how to refer a patient.
Related pages
Questions? Call us.
We can answer questions about home health, Medicare, and your insurance, before or during care.
General information, not medical advice. Follow your care team’s instructions. Our sources.