Frequently Asked Questions
We’re bringing answers home.
Home Healthcare FAQ
What is Home Healthcare?
Home healthcare is quite like it sounds. It is medical attention provided by skilled professionals that takes place in the comfort and convenience of your own home. The care comes to you rather than you having to travel to a hospital or clinic.
Home healthcare is coordinated by a licensed, qualified organization and may involve the services of nurses, therapists, clinicians and sometimes even social workers providing non-medical support. It is a service ordered by a physician for patients who may be recovering from a surgery, illness or injury or for those facing chronic illness.
What’s the difference between home healthcare, hospice care and private home care?
Home Healthcare is quite like it sounds. It is medical attention provided by skilled professionals that takes place in the comfort and convenience of your own home. The care comes to you rather than you having to travel to a hospital or clinic. Home healthcare is coordinated by a licensed, qualified organization and may involve the services of nurses, therapists, clinicians and sometimes even social workers providing non-medical support. It is a service ordered by a physician for patients who may be recovering from a surgery, illness or injury or for those facing chronic illness.
Hospice care is a philosophy of high-quality, compassionate care for anyone of any age who has a life-limiting illness and does not want any more curative treatment. It provides dignity, choice and comfort so what remains of life can be lived to its fullest. Hospice care also provides a great deal of support for family members in the form of physical, emotional and spiritual assistance.
Private Home Care provides care that concentrates on activities of daily living that including live in senior care, personal care, household/chore services, and transportation. These are all things that allow us to remain independent and in our homes.
Who is eligible for home healthcare?
To qualify for home health services, you must be in need of periodic medical treatment but experiencing difficulty leaving your home and to do so, need to rely on another person or an assistance device such as a cane, a walker or a wheelchair. The care must be ordered by your physician and that physician must be licensed in the state of Georgia. The care also must be deemed reasonable and necessary to the treatment of the patient’s illness or injury.
What services are covered under the Medicare benefit?
If you have Medicare benefits, you’ll be covered for home health services such as nursing care, physical therapy and speech-language pathology services. If qualified, you may also receive occupational therapy, the help of a medical social worker, assistance from a home health aide and/or medical supplies.
How many visits will I get at home?
Every patient and situation is different, and it will depend on the treatment ordered by your physician. Visiting Nurse continually communicates and coordinates the home visits with your doctor’s office. That way, if your situation should change, we will work in tandem with the doctor to decide if we should increase or decrease your visits.
What can I expect on the first Visiting Nurse Home Healthcare visit?
Visiting Nurse will assess the needs of the patient during the first visit ensuring the transition from the hospital to your home quite seamless. During the initial visit, a nurse or therapist will coordinate a hands-on plan of care for the patient including their physicians, family, and caregivers. By working together, Visiting Nurse’s team is able to provide the most exceptional care possible.
What does “homebound” mean?
Homebound indicates that it is challenging to leave the home and/or you unable to leave your home safely without medical equipment such as crutches, canes, walkers or wheelchairs. Your physician can determine if you are homebound if they believe that your illness or current health status could get worse if you do leave your home. However, it is not completely forbidden to leave the home. Those that are homebound leave for short periods of time for special non-medical activities like trips to attend church, graduations or to the barber/beauty shop.
Can I request Visiting Nurse if my doctor orders home health care for me?
Of course you can. Patients have the freedom to choose their health care provider under Federal law.
Who do I contact about admission to the program?
Call us, Visiting Nurse Health System, Georgia’s largest nonprofit home healthcare provider. We will then contact your physician to see if home health services are recommended and we will begin your plan. Call (404) 215-6000. We are ready to bring healthcare home to you.
How much does home healthcare cost?
Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance and managed care organizations cover the cost of home health services. Some insurance and manage care plans may require a deductible or co-pay. To have Visiting Nurse help you figure out your depth of coverage, call (404) 215-6000.
Are your employees supervised on a regular basis?
It is important to have a collaborative environment so our teams, clients, their families and physicians are on the same page. We update our employees weekly on their clients’ cases. Our Private Home Care team is also supervised by nurses on-site where they monitor the condition of the patient. These observations allow our team to report any changes to condition, care needs to the client’s family and/or primary physician.
How does Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta ensure all employees are trustworthy and competent?
We understand the uncertainty of having someone new in your home but it is our goal to ensure that all of our clients are comfortable with all Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta employees they come in contact with. Our employees proudly uphold our organizational values—respect, integrity, excellence, stewardship and care in all we do. At Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta, we take pride in having compassionate and qualified employees. All employees are required to have advanced proficiency in critical thinking, time management, technical skills as well as reading, writing and speaking English. We also examine the following for all team members during the hiring process:
- Education
- Current licenses and/or certifications
- Criminal background checks
- Ability to read, write and speak English
- Written references
Does Visiting Nurse provide back-up coverage?
Yes, of course. For all pre-scheduled visits, we will provide backup coverage when necessary. Visiting Nurse is available 24/7 and will never leave a client unattended.
Are Visiting Nurse staff members insured and bonded?
Safety and integrity are important to us. All Visiting Nurse employees are fully insured in compliance with the Georgia state laws and fully bonded against theft.
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The future of aging at home starts with all of us!
Grateful our Healthcare Champions, with the generous support of event sponsor Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, brought together key community leaders, partners and distinguished guests for an important conversation about the future of healthcare and aging in Georgia.
Lead by nationally-recognized healthcare attorney Bill A. Dombi, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG), and Visiting Nurse President and CEO Dorothy Davis, this important conversation investigated how healthcare, business, philanthropy and public policy can work together to strengthen the infrastructure, innovation and partnerships that help Georgians age safely, independently and with dignity at home. Including Georgia`s healthcare community leaders, changemakers and valued community partners in attendance, the room was filled with people committed to shaping what comes next.
Thank you to all of our guests who joined the conversation, with a very special thank you to Bill Dombi for leading the day`s event. Thank you to our host Arnall Golden Gregory LLP for sponsoring this important event.
#VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthcareChampions #AgingAtHome #HealthcareLeadership #GeorgiaHealthcare #HospiceCare
Happy National Case Management Week!
And a little appreciation goes a long way, as Phillip Walters, of Hospice Atlanta, made life a little sweeter joining Northside Hospital’s Case Management Vendor Event! Sharing important resources and information on critical care, a great time was had celebrating these dedicated case managers who make a difference for patients and families every day.
Thank you for all you do, and a shout out to our local Scrumpt bakery for helping make their special week even sweeter! #NationalCaseManagementWeek #HospiceAtlanta
⭐ Camp STARS 2026 is getting ready to shine! ⭐
Our Camp STARS volunteers and facilitators came together Saturday for a meaningful training workshop to prepare for our campers this November!
From learning and sharing ideas, together our volunteers planned grief-group activities designed to help children and families connect, express their feelings and grow through their journeys of grief. 💙
Prepared for Camp weekend, filled with moments that matter, these dedicated leaders are ready to make Camp STARS a meaningful and memorable experience for our families.
Thank you to our amazing Camp STARS volunteers and facilitators for showing up with heart and purpose!
We’re so grateful for the heart, creativity and compassion our Camp STARS volunteers bring to this special weekend. ⭐
#CampStars#hospiceatlanta#visitingnursehealthsystem#campvolunteers#griefsupport#MakingADifference
First in Georgia!
Visiting Nurse is proud to announce that our HeartCare at Home™ program is the first home health program in Georgia certified by the American Heart Association® for Home Health–Heart Failure care.
Because heart failure care doesn’t stop when a patient leaves the hospital. This certification reflects our commitment to evidence-based, high-quality care and our dedicated clinicians who bring specialized heart failure support directly to patients where they are most comfortable, in the place they call home.
After 78 years, we’re proud to continue advancing care at home. ❤️
#VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HeartCareAtHome #HeartFailure #HomeHealth #AmericanHeartAssociation
We are so grateful for our volunteers who give their time, compassion and heart to serve our patients and families in need.
What a beautiful reminder of the lasting impact a caring volunteer can make through companionship, connection and simply being present.
Thank you to our volunteers for the meaningful difference you make for our patients and families every day.
Visiting Nurse | Hospice Atlanta was proud to celebrate National Assisted Living Week all month long, with celebrations honoring the national theme “Shining Through the Years.”
We enjoyed celebrating with the residents and team at Brookdale Carrollton, GA, honoring the lives, stories and connections that make every year meaningful. (pictured below)
#NationalAssistedLivingWeek #ShiningThroughTheYears #HospiceAtlanta #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #BrookdaleCarrollton #SeniorCare #CommunityCare
🌟Congratulations to our Employee of the Month! 🌟
Please join us in celebrating our Hospice Atlanta Nurse Tasha for her dedication, hard work and commitment to our Hospice Atlanta patients and families. We thank you for all you do for our patients, families and team!
👏 Congratulations, Tasha!
Team Hospice Atlanta proudly participated in this year`s Kaiser Permanente’s Run, Walk & Roll 5K! As a valued healthcare partner, we are grateful for the opportunity to join forces and come together to support health, wellness and a healthier community.
Thank you to everyone who represented Hospice Atlanta and Visiting Nurse Health System. We are proud to support events that bring our healthcare partners and community together to in health!
#HospiceAtlanta #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #KaiserPermanente #RunWalkAndRoll #CommunityHealth #HealthAndWellness #HealthyCommunity #AtlantaCommunity #HealthcarePartners
Georgia is aging. Are we ready?
Join Visiting Nurse Health System`s Healthcare Champions for The Future of Aging at Home-What Georgia Must Do Next, Friday, October 9, as we bring healthcare, business, philanthropy and public policy leaders together for an important conversation about the future of aging in our state.
We’ll explore how Georgia can strengthen infrastructure, encourage innovation, build collaboration and shape policies that support people aging at home.
Hosted by Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, featuring Bill A. Dombi as our keynote speaker.
Friday, October 9, 2026
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Complimentary Executive Luncheon Space is limited
Let’s shape what comes next, together.
#HealthcareChampions #AgingAtHome #AgingInGeorgia #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthcareLeadership
Hospice Atlanta was proud to be out in the community today at JenCare Riverdale’s Patient Appreciation Event!
Visiting Nurse Health System / Hospice Atlanta is proud to partner with JenCare, bringing care, education and resources to our Atlanta communities, and working together to improve patients` quality of life, through both Palliative Care and Hospice programs.
Through these dynamic partnerships, we help our communities thrive, by allowing us to move beyond simply providing services, truly making a difference through quality healthcare and better results for the patients and families we serve.
#ValueBasedCare #ACO #PatientCenteredCare #PalliativeCare #HospiceCare #CommunityHealth #HealthcarePartnerships #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #JenCare
