What to expect from home health care
Home health care is short visits from nurses and therapists in your home, ordered by your doctor. Here is how care starts, what visits are like, and when care ends.
How care starts
- Your doctor orders home health. This often happens when you leave the hospital or after a doctor visit.
- We check the details. We confirm your insurance and that we serve your address, and we work with your doctor on the orders.
- We call you to set up the first visit. If you have questions before then, call us at 214-440-1394 (Texas) or 303-597-0505 (Colorado).
- A nurse or therapist comes to your home for the first visit and starts your care.
No order yet? You can still call us. We can work with your doctor.
Who will come
Your doctor’s orders decide who comes. You might see some of these people:
- Nurses check your health, help with medicines, care for wounds, and teach you about your condition.
- Physical therapists help with walking, balance, strength, and getting in and out of a bed or chair.
- Occupational therapists help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and cooking.
- Speech therapists help with talking, understanding, memory, and swallowing.
- Home health aides help with bathing and personal care, when you also get nursing or therapy.
- Social workers help you find community resources and plan for your needs.
You get only the services your doctor orders. Most people do not need all of them.
The first visit
The first visit takes longer than later visits. It often lasts an hour or more. A nurse or therapist will:
- Ask about your health, your goals, and what is hard for you right now
- Look at every medicine you take, including vitamins and medicines you buy without a prescription
- Check your home for fall and safety risks, like loose rugs or a hard path to the bathroom
- Work with your doctor to make your plan of care
- Give you papers about your rights and how to reach us
The home check is about safety. It is not an inspection of your housekeeping.
A family member can be there with you if you like.
What to have ready
- All your medicine bottles, or a list of your medicines. Include vitamins, inhalers, creams, and eye drops.
- Your Medicare card and any other insurance cards
- Your hospital discharge papers, if you were in the hospital
- Names and phone numbers of your doctors
- A list of questions you want to ask. Write them down so you do not forget.
How visits work
- Your doctor’s orders set how often someone comes. Many people have more visits at first and fewer as they get better.
- Most visits last less than an hour.
- Home health is not all-day care. A nurse or therapist comes for the visit and then leaves.
- Between visits, you and your family follow the plan. Your care team will teach you what to do, such as exercises or wound care.
- Ask your care team how they will let you know when they are coming.
- If you need to move or miss a visit, call us as soon as you can.
Who to call between visits
Call your care team if you have a question or something changes. They will give you their phone numbers at the first visit. Keep the numbers near your phone.
You can also call us at 214-440-1394 (Texas) or 303-597-0505 (Colorado).
Call 911 for an emergency, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, signs of a stroke, or a bad fall. Do not wait to call us first.
Being homebound: what you can still do
To get home health through Medicare, your doctor must say you are homebound. This means leaving home takes a lot of effort. For example, you may need a walker, a wheelchair, or help from another person.
Homebound does not mean you can never leave. You can still go out for:
- Doctor visits and medical treatment
- Religious services
- Adult day care
- Short, rare trips, like a haircut, a walk around the block, or a family event
Read more: what “homebound” means.
When home health ends
- Home health ends when you meet your goals, or when your doctor decides you no longer need it.
- You do not have to keep getting better to get home health. Medicare can cover skilled care that keeps your condition from getting worse.
- Before Medicare-covered services end, you will get a written notice. If you think care is ending too soon, you can ask for a fast appeal. The notice tells you how.
- Your doctor can order more care if you still need it. Talk with your doctor and your care team.
Your choices
- If you have Medicare, you can choose any Medicare-certified home health agency that serves your area.
- You can switch agencies. Tell your doctor and the new agency.
- You can ask questions about any part of your care, and you can say no to a service.
- You can compare agencies on Medicare Care Compare at medicare.gov/care-compare.
See our guide: questions to ask before you choose an agency.
More questions
Who will come to my home for home health care?
Your doctor’s orders decide who comes. You may see nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, home health aides, or social workers. You get only the services your doctor orders.
What should I have ready for the first home health visit?
Have your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines. Have your Medicare and insurance cards and your hospital discharge papers. Also have your doctors’ names and phone numbers, and a list of your questions.
Who do I call between home health visits?
Call your care team at the numbers they give you at the first visit. You can also call Adaptive Home Health at 214-440-1394 (Texas) or 303-597-0505 (Colorado). For an emergency, such as chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911.
Can a family member be there during home health visits?
Yes. A family member or friend can be there for any visit if you like. It helps when the person who helps you between visits can learn what to do from the nurse or therapist.
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.