Short answer: New Century Home Care provides non-medical Parkinson’s home care in Philadelphia. Our aides assist with daily tasks, mobility, and medication reminders so your loved one can safely stay at home.

How Parkinson’s affects daily life at home

Parkinson’s disease changes how a person moves and handles daily routines. The primary movement symptoms include slowness (bradykinesia), tremors, and rigidity. These physical changes mean your loved one needs more time and physical support to get through the day safely.

These symptoms make morning routines difficult. Getting dressed takes longer due to stiffness in the arms and legs. Later in the disease, postural instability causes balance problems. You might notice your loved one having difficulty turning over in bed. Getting out of a deep chair or a car seat becomes a physical challenge.

Many people experience freezing, where they feel stuck in place when starting a step or walking through doorways. They may also take short, rapid steps known as festination. Other changes include soft or slurred speech and small handwriting. Specialized support at home can give your loved one hands-on help with these changes.

What our home care aides do

Our aides provide non-medical personal care and routine support. They supply hands-on help in your loved one’s place of residence. They do not perform skilled nursing tasks like administering injections, wound care, or adjusting medication doses.

Parkinson’s Symptom	How a Home Care Aide Helps
Slowness (bradykinesia)	Allows extra time for dressing and eating; assists with buttons, zippers, and grooming.
Difficulty transferring	Provides steady support when getting out of bed, moving to a chair, or using the toilet.
Freezing and balance issues	Walks alongside to support safe ambulation and provides standby assistance on stairs.
Medication timing	Provides assistance with self-administered medications by offering verbal reminders at the right times.
Tremors	Sets up meals, assists with feeding, and handles household tasks like meal preparation and laundry.

Managing falls and freezing

Falls are a serious risk for older adults. More than one out of four older people falls each year. About 4.5 million emergency department visits annually are due to older people’s falls, according to the CDC. Additionally, nearly 319,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures each year.

Postural instability and freezing make falls even more likely for someone with Parkinson’s. Freezing often happens when turning or walking through doorways. Festination, or taking short, rapid steps, also increases the chance of losing balance. Reviewing a fall prevention guide can help you identify hazards in the house.

Aides are trained in ambulation and transferring to help lower these risks. They monitor your loved one as they move around the house. They can also perform incidental homemaker tasks, keeping walkways clear of clutter and wiping up spills to reduce tripping hazards.

If your loved one needs help managing daily routines safely, call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form and choose “I am a client” then “I need services.”

When to call the doctor or 911

Home care aides provide daily support, but they cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions. You remain in charge of your loved one’s medical care.

Call your loved one’s doctor if you notice new or worsening symptoms, or if they experience a fall without severe injury. The doctor can assess if a medication change or physical therapy is needed.

Call 911 immediately in an emergency or if a fall results in an injury.

How Parkinson’s home care is paid for in Philadelphia

There are several ways to cover the cost of a Parkinson’s home care aide in Pennsylvania.

Payer	Covers this?	Notes
Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver	Yes	Covers Personal Assistance Services and respite care. Hours are set by the CHC service coordinator in the person-centered service plan.
Medicare	No	Does not cover 24-hour care or personal care alone. Covers home health aides only alongside part-time skilled nursing or therapy for homebound individuals.
Private Pay	Yes	You pay out of pocket. Rates are explained when you call to set up a schedule. You can use funds from a VA pension, such as Aid and Attendance, to pay for this care.
Veterans Affairs (VA)	Yes	Eligible veterans may use Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care or Veteran-Directed Care. Start by asking a VA social worker.
Long-Term Care Insurance	Depends	Coverage depends on your specific policy terms, daily limits, and waiting periods.

Can a family member be the paid caregiver?

Yes. Family members can be paid to care for a relative through the CHC waiver. New Century Home Care hires family caregivers to provide Personal Assistance Services.

Pennsylvania rules state the CHC waiver will not pay for services furnished by the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or Power of Attorney (POA). If you do not hold one of these roles, you can apply to get paid to care for a family member.

Caregivers must meet competency requirements. This involves passing our agency’s exam or completing a training program that covers infection control, handling emergencies, and personal care tasks like bathing and transferring.

How to start with New Century

Follow these steps to set up care for your loved one in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, or Chester counties.

1. Call us at 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form. Tell us about your loved one’s daily needs, schedule, and payer.
2. If using the CHC waiver, tell your CHC plan service coordinator that you choose New Century Home Care as your agency. We work with Keystone First CHC (AmeriHealth Caritas); on another plan, call us first.
3. If using private pay, we will agree on a care schedule and rates.
4. We assign a caregiver who has passed all Pennsylvania requirements. This includes an interview, a criminal history report, at least two satisfactory references from a former employer or person not related to the applicant, and a tuberculosis screening.

Our office staff speaks English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Ready to arrange mobility assistance and daily support? Call 215-974-0000 today or fill out our form and select “I am a client” followed by “I need services.”

Frequently asked questions

What are the early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease?

Primary movement symptoms include slowness (bradykinesia), tremors, and rigidity. You might also notice soft or slurred speech, small handwriting, and difficulty turning over in bed or getting out of a chair. If you see these signs, advise your loved one to see a doctor.

How do you help someone with Parkinson’s get out of bed?

Always follow guidance from a physical therapist for safe techniques. Home care aides are trained in safe ambulation and transferring. They provide steady, hands-on support to help the person move from the bed to a standing position or a wheelchair.

Can a home care aide give Parkinson’s medication?

No. Home care aides provide non-skilled services. They can offer assistance with self-administered medications, which means providing reminders and handing the person their pre-measured medication. They cannot administer injections or adjust medication doses.