Home Instead

To begin home health services like skilled nursing, physical therapy, hospice, or wound care at home, you’ll need a doctor’s referral if you want Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance to cover it. Once you have a referral, you can compare agencies based on quality ratings, nurse availability, and specialties. Our site makes it easy to find local agencies, message them directly, and get prequalified based on your specific health needs and insurance coverage. After that, expect a home health nurse to schedule an initial evaluation visit.

To start home care services like help with bathing, meals, or companionship, you can reach out directly to home care agencies. No doctor’s referral is required. Most home care is paid privately, by long-term care insurance, or through Medicaid waiver programs. It’s important to compare providers based on caregiver training, reliability, and responsiveness; our site helps you compare local options, message providers, and start the prequalification process. The typical next step is a free home assessment to create a personalized care plan.