A Family Guide to Home Health Care
When a parent or loved one comes home from the hospital, or starts having a harder time at home, families have a lot of questions and not much time. This guide explains what home health care is, who qualifies, how care starts, and what to expect from us along the way.
- Your doctor orders careWe’ll help get the referral
- We check your coverageMedicare typically pays 100%
- Care starts at homeWe schedule your first visit quickly
What Home Health Care Is
Home health care is medically necessary care that licensed clinicians provide at home under a physician's orders. That includes skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, medical social services, and home health aide assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing and personal hygiene when ordered as part of an eligible skilled home health plan of care. It is part-time, goal-directed care. It doesn't replace emergency or hospital care, and it isn't 24-hour or custodial care.
Signs Your Loved One May Benefit From Home Health
- A recent hospital stay, surgery or skilled nursing facility stay
- A recent fall, or a growing fear of falling
- Trouble walking, getting out of bed or getting around the house
- A new or changed medication routine that's hard to manage
- A wound, IV line, catheter or drain that needs skilled care
- A chronic condition such as heart failure, COPD or diabetes that's getting harder to manage
- New trouble swallowing, speaking or remembering
If any of these sound familiar, talk to your loved one's physician, or call us and we'll help coordinate.
Who Qualifies
Home health is for patients who need part-time or intermittent skilled care, have a physician's order, and are homebound. Medicare.gov says you're homebound if you meet both of these conditions:
- Leaving your home isn't recommended because of your condition or you have trouble leaving your home without help (like using a cane, wheelchair, walker, or crutches; special transportation; or help from another person) because of an illness or injury.
- You're normally unable to leave your home and leaving takes a lot of effort.
See Medicare home health coverage for the full requirements and costs.
We accept Original Medicare and also work with the VA and select Medicare Advantage plans on a case-by-case basis. Contact us to verify coverage.
How Care Starts
1. Referral. A physician's order is required. If you don't have one yet, we'll help coordinate with your doctor or the hospital discharge planner. 2. We call you. Our care coordinator contacts you to schedule the first visit at home. 3. First visit. A clinician reviews your loved one's health, medications and home safety, and sets goals with you. 4. Plan of care. The physician signs the plan of care, and visits follow it. 5. Updates and discharge. We keep the physician informed, and when goals are met, we plan discharge with you.
Ideal Choice accepts completed physician referral forms and supporting clinical documents by:
- Fax: (747) 877-8441
- Approved secure email: referrals@idealchoicehomehealth.com
Phone (747) 877-8440 is for referral questions and coordination.
Do not send patient information through ordinary email, website forms or chat.
What You Can Expect From Us
Care doesn't end when the visit does. When you call during office hours, you reach our team directly. You'll have a care coordinator to go to with questions, and we keep communication quick and clear. When your loved one's condition changes, we report it to the physician and follow through. And we take the time to get to know each patient as a person, because good care is built on trust, respect and a real relationship.
How Families Take Part
Families play a big part in recovery. Our clinicians teach family members and caregivers how to help safely, from exercises to medication routines, and keep you informed and involved.
Your Right to Choose
If you have Original Medicare and qualify for home health, you can choose any Medicare-certified home health agency that serves your area. Tell your doctor or discharge planner which agency you prefer.
Questions to Ask Any Home Health Agency
- Are you Medicare-certified, state-licensed and accredited?
- Which services can you provide for my loved one's needs?
- When we call, will a real person answer, and who is our main point of contact?
- How will you communicate with our doctor and with us?
- How do you let the physician know when something changes?
Call or text (747) 877-8440. Office hours: Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM.
Does Medicare cover home health care?
Yes, for eligible patients. See Medicare home health coverage for details.
Can my parent come home from the hospital or a skilled nursing facility with home health?
Yes, if they're eligible and their physician orders it. Ask the discharge planner to refer to Ideal Choice Home Health.
How long does home health last?
It depends on medical necessity. Care is planned in 60-day periods, and the physician can recertify the plan of care if your loved one still qualifies.
Do you provide a home health aide?
Yes. Home health aides may assist with bathing, grooming, dressing and personal hygiene when ordered as part of an eligible home health plan of care alongside qualifying skilled nursing or therapy.
What isn't covered?
24-hour care, custodial-only care, meal delivery and homemaker services, according to Medicare.gov.
Do you serve my area?
Our office is at 14852 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks. We primarily serve Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, as well as parts of Ventura and Orange counties. Call to confirm your ZIP code.