Home Care
Home care is a service provided in your home. Home care may include light housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, companion supervision, medical care such as physical or occupational therapy or personal care such as bathing and dressing. Care providers have undergone detailed background checks and received some type of formal training.
Quick Reference Basics for Medicare Homecare:
- Doctors order for skilled nursing, or physical therapy is required
- Doctor must certify that you are homebound (Adult Day Care is acceptable)
- Home Care provider Agency must be Medicare Certified
- Does NOT cover personal care if that is the only care you need
- Does NOT cover ongoing services
Home and Community Based Programs
If you are a Rhode Island resident 65 or older, eligible for Medical Assistance (Medicaid), unable to leave home without considerable assistance, and need help with the tasks of daily living you may be eligible for the Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) Home and Community Care Medicaid Waiver Programs.
Home and Community Care Programs provide eligible seniors with options to help them remain in at home. Based on eligibility, Home and Community Care Medicaid Waiver Programs may provide home health aide services, adult day services, Meals on Wheels, Senior Companion services, personal emergency alert systems, minor home modifications, assistive devices, or assisted living services.
- OHA works with statewide case management agencies to develop care plans to help seniors remain in the least restrictive and safest environment. Search under your City or Town on this website to find the case management agency that services your area.
- If you meet the guidelines for the Healthy Aging @Home Program, services are provided at a reduced rate. Co-payment amounts are determined by your income level.
Click here for a list of Home Nursing Care Providers licensed by the RI Department of Health.
Hiring someone from the newspaper or an online ad is strongly discouraged. Homecare agencies, Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing homes are required to conduct a national fingerprint background check through the RI Attorney Generals Office before hiring direct access staff.
Shared Living
RIte@Home is a shared living option available for adults who qualify for Medicaid, cannot live alone, and require quite a bit of help with the activities of daily living. Usually, the person that needs care moves into the caregivers home.