Home care is a service that provides treatment or assistance to a recuperating, chronically ill or disabled person in the home. The service can be provided on a short or long term basis. Home care includes a wide array of service from high tech nursing care to companion care.

Per visit home health services are provided under the orders of a physician, and these visits usually last an hour or less. In general, home health visits are covered by third party payors such as Medicaid or private insurance. However, coverage varies and services are provided in accordance with the requirements of the third party payor.

Private duty nursing is often provided for longer periods of time, in shifts of 4 to 24 hours. Private duty is usually paid for by the individual or family although, in some cases, a third party will cover the cost of shift care.

• JCAHO accreditation - does the agency have current JCAHO accreditation? The mission of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is to improve the quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations.
  Other respected national accrediting bodies are the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP) and the Foundation for Hospice and Homecare. Local accrediting organizations, such as The Commssion on Accreditation for Home Care (CAHC) in New Jersey, also provide the same quality assurances. An organization with JCAHO, CHAP, Foundation or CAHC accreditation provides the patient with the comfort of knowing that the organization has met objectively surveyed national standards.

• Good Customer Service - does the agency have pleasant staff ready to answer your questions or help you get the information you need?

• Available Workers - does the agency have a large pool of workers available to meet your home care needs?

• Geographical Location - does the agency have workers located in your area of need?

• Special Care Programs - if you are a client with special needs, does the agency provide workers with special training in your area of need?

• Cost of Services - in general, all services will either be private pay or by a third party payor, such as: Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. Please note that People Care does not accept Medicare.