Top Home Care Agencies in Pittsburgh, PA

It’s common for people in Pittsburgh to fist look to their health insurance coverage before using their own funds to pay for home care. However, if nonmedical personal care is what you’re looking for, most insurance won’t pay for these services. For example, Medicare covers medically necessary care services prescribed by a doctor, but likely won’t cover nonmedical support, like homemaker services.

People most often use private funds to pay for home care. Savings and retirement accounts, health savings accounts (HSAs), long-term care (LTC) insurance, life insurance, and pensions are often used by families to pay for home care. Medicaid may also cover home care services under their home and community based services (HCBS) waiver programs. For eligible veterans and their surviving spouses, benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may also be used to pay for home care services.

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 insurance to cover home care costs.

Does Medicare pay for home care in Pittsburgh?

Yes, Medicare covers home care services if they’re provided as part of a medically necessary in-home medical care plan, prescribed by a doctor.^[01] Medicare typically only covers short-term health care services provided by Medicare-certified home health care agencies. Home care agencies that offer medical care services typically have highly trained home health aides who treat injury or illness according to a doctor’s orders.

Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) is the local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). At no cost, seniors can use this program to receive enrollment support and education on their Medicare benefits that relate to home care coverage.

Does Medicaid pay for home care in Pittsburgh?

Yes, Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, called Medical Assistance (MA), may cover nonmedical home care as long as it’s provided alongside doctor-prescribed at-home medical care. People under the age of 65 must meet income limits to be eligible for Medical Assistance. Seniors may be eligible if they’re at least 65 years old and need long-term care services or meet the program’s income limits.^[02]

In addition, Pennsylvania has two home and community based service (HCBS) waivers that provide coverage for some home care services that aren’t covered by Medical Assistance alone:

• The Community HealthChoices Waiver covers services that help people stay in their homes rather than move to a facility. Adults age 21+ may be eligible for this waiver if they have both Medicaid and Medicare, or if they already receive long-term support with personal tasks through Medicaid.
• The Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) Program covers both medical and nonmedical services for people age 55+. Adults may be eligible if they meet financial requirements, require skilled nursing or rehabilitative care, and can be safely cared for at home.

Where do I get information about veterans benefits in Pittsburgh?

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits can help eligible veterans and their spouses (and in some cases, their dependents) cover home care costs. However, it can be challenging to understand VA eligibility and to apply for benefits. The Pittsburgh VA Regional Office connects veterans with veteran benefits counselors who help veterans or their spouses access benefits. Call 800-827-1000 or visit the office at the address below.

Pittsburgh VA Regional Office
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Veterans service organizations (VSOs) can also help veterans and their families throughout the benefits application process. VSOs have trained benefits officers who help people understand which benefits they might be eligible for. They can also advice on how to maximize VA benefits to get as much coverage for home care as possible. Browse the VSO searches below to find a Pittsburgh officer you’d like to work with:

• Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post search
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapter search
• Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) chapter search
• American Legion post search
• Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) branch search

In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has a veterans benefits booklet that offers additional context on potential benefits. It includes eligibility criteria and contact information by county.

What other Pittsburgh services help seniors age in place?

Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania have several programs to help seniors age in place at home. These programs connect seniors with local resources that help to maintain independence, so seniors can continue living in their homes for as long as possible. Browse the list below to find Pittsburgh services that match your or your loved one’s needs:

• AgeWell Pittsburgh connects seniors with nutrition, transportation, and safety programs.
• Allegheny County’s Area Agency on Aging helps seniors aged 60+ by offering health insurance counseling, connections to senior-friendly transportation, and senior community centers.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Aging connects seniors with programs that help with meals, free or low-cost transportation, Medicare counseling, and health and wellness programs.
• The Help at Home (OPTIONS) program from the Department of Aging helps seniors age 60+ via services such as medical transportation, home modifications, in-home meal deliveries, and pest control.

As you review our home care agency listings, the following factors can help you narrow down your options and feel confident in your decision:

• Agency licensure standards
• Accreditation standards
• Caregiver hiring practices
• Fees
• Minimum requirements

The listings on this page include home care agencies that offer both nonmedical home care, such as help with bathing and light housekeeping, and medical care services, such as skilled nursing care. Focus on the agencies that can best meet your or your loved one’s current needs, but also keep in mind any possible future needs to ensure the agency can provide for them.

Licensure and accreditation

Pennsylvania’s Department of Health licenses all of the home care agencies on this page. Home care agencies that provide nonmedical personal care must pay an annual fee, cooperate with on-site inspections, and thoroughly vet each staff member and caregiver in order to be licensed.^[03]

Home care agencies that provide skilled medical care must also undergo on-site inspections and pay a fee to maintain a license.^[03] You can learn more about regulations for home care agencies offering medical care on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

The Department of Health conducts client surveys for all home care agencies. You can find the most recent reports on the Department of Health’s health care facilities search:

1. Choose either “Home Care” (nonmedical) or “Home Health Agency” (medical). Or, enter part of an agency’s name if you have a specific agency in mind but don’t know which type to search for.
2. Enter your county, city, or zip code.
3. Enter any other information about the agency, if known, and click “Submit.”
4. Click on the “Patient Care Survey Data” link under the agency you’re interested in.
5. Choose a date to read the survey results.

Pennsylvania home care agencies can also seek accreditation to highlight their dedication to high-quality care. When a home care agency is accredited, it means they’ve met an accrediting organization’s care quality standards. During an on-site inspection, the accrediting organization may consider factors such as infection control practices, proof of caregiver competency, and client assessment methods.^[04]

Hiring practices

Pennsylvania home care caregivers are also known as direct care workers or aides. Before working with seniors and other clients, caregivers must complete and pass each of the following steps:^[03]

• Criminal background check
• Child abuse clearance
• Tuberculosis (TB) screen
• Annual review of caregiving competency

It may bring additional peace of mind to know that home care caregivers must also be certified in one of the following ways:^[03]

• Maintain a nurse’s license
• Finish an approved nurse aide program
• Pass a home care skills competency exam

Home care aides providing medical services have to complete additional training and work alongside licensed practical nurses and registered nurses. These aides must finish at least 60 hours of training in the following areas before working with clients with medical needs:^[05]

• Client self-reliance
• Meal preparation
• Nutrition
• The aging process
• Emotions related to illness
• Observing, recording, and reporting client conditions
• Ethics and confidentiality

Fees and minimums

In order to consider the overall cost of a home care agency as you make your decision, it’s important to understand the factors that impact this cost. For instance, some agencies charge additional fees or have minimum shift requirements. Connect with the agencies you’re interested in and ask the questions below, so you can be as prepared as possible:

• Does the agency charge for an initial assessment?
• Are there different rates for overnight or holiday care?
• Do they require a deposit?
• What’s the minimum client age requirement?
• Is there a required minimum number of hours per shift or number of shifts per week?

Other questions to ask Pittsburgh home care agencies

Ask these 10 questions to help you find the right home care agency.