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Who Can Benefit From Home Health Care?
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Patients recovering after a hospital stay, surgery, illness, or injury who need short-term skilled care at home.
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Chronically ill, disabled, or medically fragile individuals who prefer to remain safely and comfortably in their own homes.
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Seniors who require additional assistance with daily activities, mobility, medication management, or rehabilitation services.
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Patients needing skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or wound care services at home.
Expert Answers to Common Questions
Q: What services does a home health care agency provide?
A: Home health care agencies provide skilled medical and supportive services in the comfort of a patient’s home. Services may include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medication management, wound care, and assistance with certain activities of daily living (ADLs).
Q: What are ADLs?
A: ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) are basic everyday tasks used to determine how much assistance a person may need. These include:
• Toileting and personal hygiene
• Bathing and grooming
• Dressing and undressing
• Preparing and eating meals
• Moving safely around the home
• Transferring from one place to another, such as from a bed to a chair or wheelchair
Q: Do I need a doctor’s referral for home health care?
A: Home health care services are typically ordered by a physician based on medical necessity. Our team can help coordinate with your physician to determine eligibility and begin services.
Q: How do I know if home health care is not enough for my loved one?
A: Home health care may not be sufficient if your loved one requires constant supervision, cannot safely complete most daily activities (ADLs), or needs 24/7 medical monitoring. In these situations, a physician may recommend a higher level of care, such as a nursing facility or assisted living placement.
Q: What happens if I am not comfortable with my caregiver?
A: If you are not comfortable with your assigned caregiver or clinician, you may contact the agency to request a different caregiver. Patient comfort, safety, and quality of care are important, and agencies will typically work to provide a better match whenever possible.
Q: What happens if my caregiver is sick or unavailable?
A: If your caregiver is provided through an agency, a replacement caregiver or clinician will typically be arranged to help ensure continuity of care. If care is arranged independently, backup care may need to be coordinated separately.
Q: How do I know what services my caregiver will provide?
A: Your agency should provide a written plan of care outlining the services being provided, caregiver responsibilities, treatment goals, medical support, and the level of assistance you can expect.
Patients should also receive a Patient Bill of Rights explaining the rights and responsibilities of the patient, caregiver, and agency.
Who Pays for Home Health Care Services?
Insurance Coverage
Depending on your insurance benefits and eligibility, Empower Home Health Care may bill your insurance provider directly for covered services.
Medicare / Medi-Cal
If you qualify for home health care services under Medicare or Medi-Cal guidelines, our office may bill Medicare or Medi-Cal directly for covered services.
Private Pay
For services paid directly by the patient or family, Empower Home Health Care provides detailed billing statements that clearly identify visits, hours, and services performed by our healthcare professionals.
Q: What areas do you serve?
A: Empower Home Health Care proudly serves patients throughout Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, including Van Nuys, Lake Balboa, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Glendale, Burbank, Northridge, Hollywood, and surrounding communities.
Q: Does Medicare cover home health care?
A: Medicare may cover eligible home health care services when ordered by a physician and deemed medically necessary. Covered services may include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and home health aide services for qualified patients.
Q: How quickly can home health care services begin?
A: In many cases, home health care services can begin shortly after receiving a physician’s order and completing the admission process. Our team works closely with patients, families, hospitals, and physicians to coordinate care as quickly as possible.
Q: How does Medicare pay for home health care?
A: Medicare may cover eligible home health care services when ordered by a physician and deemed medically necessary. Covered services can include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and home health aide services for qualified patients receiving care at home.
Q: Does Medicare cover physical therapy at home?
A: Medicare may cover in-home physical therapy services for patients who qualify for home health care benefits and require rehabilitation services ordered by a physician.
Q: Does Medicare cover skilled nursing at home?
A: Medicare may cover intermittent skilled nursing services provided in the home when medically necessary and ordered by a physician as part of a home health plan of care.
Q: What insurance plans does Empower Home Health Care accept?
A: Empower Home Health Care works with Medicare, Medi-Cal, private insurance plans, and private pay arrangements depending on patient eligibility and coverage.
Q: What qualifies a patient for skilled nursing at home?
A: Patients may qualify for skilled nursing services at home if they require medical care such as wound care, medication management, injections, monitoring of chronic conditions, post-surgical care, or other physician-ordered nursing services.
Q: Can nurses visit patients at home after surgery?
A: Yes. Skilled nurses can provide post-surgical care at home, including wound care, medication management, monitoring recovery progress, and helping reduce the risk of hospital readmission.
Q: Who qualifies for wound care at home?
A: Patients with surgical wounds, pressure ulcers, diabetic wounds, infections, or other medically necessary wound conditions may qualify for skilled wound care services at home through physician referral.
Q: Can seniors receive IV therapy at home?
A: Some patients may qualify for IV therapy services at home depending on their medical condition, physician orders, and insurance eligibility.
Q: Can seniors receive therapy services at home?
A: Yes. Eligible patients may receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy services in the comfort of their home as part of a physician-directed care plan.
Q: What does physical therapy at home help with?
A: Home physical therapy may help improve mobility, strength, balance, walking ability, fall prevention, and recovery after surgery, injury, stroke, or hospitalization.
Q: What is occupational therapy in home health care?
A: Occupational therapy helps patients safely perform daily activities such as bathing, dressing, cooking, grooming, and moving around the home independently.
Q: What does speech therapy help with in home health care?
A: Speech therapy may help patients experiencing speech difficulties, swallowing problems, cognitive issues, or communication challenges related to illness, stroke, or neurological conditions.
Q: What is the difference between home care and home health care?
A: Home health care provides skilled medical services ordered by a physician, such as nursing and therapy services. Home care typically focuses on non-medical assistance with daily activities like bathing, meal preparation, and companionship.
Q: How fast can home health care begin after hospital discharge?
A: In many cases, home health care services can begin shortly after hospital discharge once physician orders and admission paperwork are completed.
Q: What conditions qualify for home health services?
A: Patients recovering from surgery, illness, injury, stroke, hospitalization, chronic disease, mobility limitations, or other medically necessary conditions may qualify for home health services.
Q: Can home health care help prevent hospital readmission?
A: Yes. Skilled nursing and therapy services at home may help monitor recovery, manage medications, identify complications early, and reduce the risk of avoidable hospital readmissions.
Q: Is home health care available for seniors living alone?
A: Yes. Home health care services can support seniors living independently by providing medical care, therapy services, safety monitoring, and assistance with recovery at home.
Q: What home health services are available in Los Angeles?
A: Empower Home Health Care provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, medication management, and in-home healthcare services throughout Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley.
Q: Where can I find skilled nursing care at home in Los Angeles?
A: Empower Home Health Care provides skilled nursing services for eligible patients throughout Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Lake Balboa, Sherman Oaks, Glendale, Burbank, Northridge, Studio City, and surrounding communities.
Q: Can I get personalized senior care services in Los Angeles?
A: Empower Home Health Care provides individualized home health care plans tailored to each patient’s medical condition, recovery goals, physician orders, and personal healthcare needs.
Q: How do I arrange home health care services in Los Angeles?
A: Patients or family members can contact Empower Home Health Care directly to discuss eligibility, physician referrals, insurance coverage, and available home health services.
Need Home Health Care Services in Los Angeles?
Call Empower Home Health Care today at (818) 616-1111 to learn more about eligibility, Medicare coverage, referrals, and available services.
