Top Home Care Agencies in Atlanta, GA
The 345 home care agencies in Atlanta, Georgia, provide many options for seniors to receive the support they need within the comfort of their own home. The average hourly cost of home care in Atlanta is $25, so total monthly or yearly costs depend on how much care is needed per day. Keep this in mind as you explore the payment methods, home care agency regulations, and listings below. You can use this page to help you make an informed decision and find an Atlanta home care agency that’s right for you.
Home Care Agencies near Atlanta, GA
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Costs of home care in Atlanta, Georgia
Average cost of home care in Atlanta, GA
Average monthly cost of home care vs. senior living in Atlanta, GA
Compare the costs of aging in place against senior living
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Paying for home care in Atlanta, GA
Health insurance policies and personal funds are common methods people use to pay for home care in Atlanta. Health insurance usually only covers the medically necessary parts of care, which is provided by home health care. Home health care is doctor-prescribed medical care, while home care is nonmedical care that includes help with daily activities. When a person is prescribed home health care by a doctor, some nonmedical home care services are often also provided.
To pay for what some health insurance policies don’t cover, people may turn to other income and assets. These include retirement savings, pensions, or retirement accounts.
If needed, and if the person is eligible, there are several public insurance options that may cover home care costs. Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid may be used to pay for any leftover home care costs. Long-term care insurance policies may also be used, but policies usually vary in what they cover and the care should also be deemed medically necessary.
Paying for home care
Get an overview of all payment options for home care.
VA home care benefits
See how VA benefits can help veterans and their spouses pay for home care.
Home care and LTC insurance
Learn how to use long-term care (LTC) insurance to cover home care costs.
Does Medicare pay for home care in Atlanta?
Yes, personal home care services may be covered by Medicare as long as a doctor has prescribed medically necessary home health care services. Home health care services are medical services prescribed by a doctor, whereas home care services include support with daily activities.
To receive coverage, an individual must meet Medicare eligibility requirements such as being age 65+ or having a disability. However, personal home care services without a medical necessity aren’t covered by Medicare.
Georgia’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or Georgia SHIP, can guide Medicare beneficiaries through their benefits. During weekdays, call 1-866-552-4464 to talk to a Medicare assistance counselor about how your benefits can be used to pay for home care.
Does Medicaid pay for home care in Atlanta?
Yes, Georgia Medicaid covers home care services if they’re given alongside doctor-prescribed home health care services. Home care involves nonmedical care services, but home health care provides skilled medical care.
Georgia Medicaid has several waiver programs that help Atlanta seniors pay for home care. These waivers are meant to help seniors receive care in their homes or in the community rather than in a nursing home environment. This includes personal home care and support with activities of daily living, such as mealtimes and hygiene tasks.[01] You can contact Georgia’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection to apply for one of these waiver programs.
What other Atlanta services help seniors age in place?
The Division of Aging Services works with the Atlanta Area Agency on Aging to provide programs for seniors living at home. Examples of the services they might provide include:[02]
- Help with chores
- Homemaker services
- Home-delivered meals
- Education on nutrition and wellness
Check with the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging to see which programs are provided near you.
The following are additional Atlanta programs that can help seniors age in place at home:
- Empowerline has counselors available via phone or online who can connect seniors with local meal support, transportation, and health care providers.
- The Aging and Independence Services Group offers wellness programs and legal assistance for seniors.
- The Lifelong Community Partnership works with Atlanta communities to help seniors safely age in place.
Where do I get information about veterans benefits in Atlanta?
The Georgia Department of Veterans Service is a great resource to contact first when applying for benefits you can use to pay for home care. Veterans, their surviving spouses, or their dependents can work with counselors to discover what they’re eligible for. It’s common for people to be eligible for more than they think. Using resources like this is particularly helpful for getting through the complicated application process and maximizing your benefits.
We also recommend contacting local veterans service organizations (VSOs). They have trained officers who can help with the benefits application process at no cost to you. Start by searching for your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) chapter or the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapter. You can also find support with veterans benefits at an American Legion post, your nearest Fleet Reserve Association branch, and the Jewish War Veterans of the USA chapter.
What families are saying about home care in Atlanta
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How to choose the right Atlanta home care agency
Licensing standards, accreditation, and hiring practices are all important to consider when choosing an Atlanta home care agency. These factors can help you feel more informed and confident in your decision, as they highlight the quality of care that clients can expect. For instance, every caregiver in a licensed home care agency has to go through background and health screenings and extensive training before working directly with seniors.[02]
You may also want to keep home health care in mind if medical care is needed in addition to personal care. Home health care agencies provide doctor-prescribed medical care carried out by licensed caregivers. Home care agencies only provide personal care, including transportation, homemaking services, and support with daily activities. Some agencies offer both personal home care as well as home health care, depending on the client’s needs.
There are many questions you can ask a prospective agency to help you understand their hiring practices as well as any fees, minimum hourly requirements, or caregiver services.
Licensure and accreditation
Atlanta home care agencies are licensed by Georgia’s Department of Community Health Healthcare Facility Regulation Division.[03] All of the rules below must be followed in order for a home care license to be given or renewed:[04]
- The owner has to pass a background check.
- Home care clients must be given a written service agreement that outlines all services and charges.
- The agency must keep written client records that include what daily care services were given.
- The agency must also keep written qualification records for every employee.
Georgia home care agencies may also be inspected from time to time. Inspections happen at the agency’s main site, where the inspector will review all licensure and staff records.
Some Atlanta home care agencies can also choose to be accredited. When a home care agency is accredited, it means the agency has passed an accrediting organization’s standards for quality of care. An organization may consider factors such as proof of caregiver competency, infection control, and client assessment methods.[05]
Hiring practices
Every licensed Atlanta home care agency has screening processes and qualification requirements for their caregiving staff. Generally, all staff have to pass a criminal background check and a tuberculosis screening. They also have to complete orientation and training specific to the agency.
Atlanta caregivers who provide in-home care are also known as personal care assistants. Personal care assistants must finish the agency’s orientation, complete nurse aid training, and pass a competency exam before working with clients. They’re also required to complete a 40-hour training that covers the following areas:[04]
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- First aid and CPR
- Support with transfers and mobility
- How to care for people with special conditions
- Home safety and management
- Home sanitation and infection control
- How to monitor vital signs
- Nutrition
Outside of these requirements, each caregiver has to finish at least eight annual hours of training. Plus, it may bring peace of mind to know that they’re also evaluated at least once each year by their supervisor.[04]
Fees and minimums
Understanding an Atlanta agency’s costs and any minimum requirements can help you make an informed decision about a home care agency. Once you find an agency you’re interested in, you may want to ask them some of the following questions:
- Do they require a deposit?
- Is there a charge for the initial client assessment?
- Do they require a minimum number of hours or shifts?
- Is there a minimum age requirement for clients?
The following section links to a complete list of questions to ask that can help you navigate conversations with home care agencies.
Other questions to ask Atlanta home care agencies
Ask these 10 questions to help you find the right home care agency.
Frequently asked questions about home care in Atlanta
Senior Helpers of Lawrenceville, GA, Esther Home Care Services and SYNERGY HomeCare of North Atlanta, GA are the top-rated Home Care facilities near Atlanta, GA. These Home Care facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Home Care in Atlanta is {{ zipAverageCost }} per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Home care is provided by an aide who comes to a senior’s home to help with daily chores and activities of daily living. It can be offered anywhere a senior calls home — including a house, senior apartment, independent living, or assisted living. Learn more about home care.
Home care services are customizable to a senior’s unique needs. Services can include companionship, help with chores like cooking and housekeeping, or assistance with activities of daily living, like toileting and bathing. Explore home care services in more detail.
Home care provides nonmedical services for seniors who require assistance with daily tasks like housework, bathing, dressing, and transportation. In contrast, home health care is prescribed by a doctor and includes services like skilled nursing care and therapies, health monitoring, and medication administration that are provided by licensed medical professionals. Read more about home care vs. home health care.
References
Georgia Medicaid. Waiver programs.
Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services. Programs and services.
Georgia Department of Community Health. (2007). Private home care provider licensure packet.
Rules and Regulations for Private Home Care Providers, Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia Chapter 111-8 § 111-8-65
The Joint Commission. (2018). Accreditation for personal care and support.
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