Short answer: When your loved one returns home after surgery, they often need help with daily tasks while they recover. New Century Home Care provides non-medical assistance with bathing, dressing, meal prep, and mobility in Philadelphia to keep them safe.

What non-medical help looks like the first weeks home

Coming home after a hospital discharge means your loved one will likely need physical help as they adjust. Under Pennsylvania regulations, home care agencies provide non-medical services to support daily living. This includes personal care, assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and companionship.

During the first few weeks, a caregiver steps in to handle the physical work so your loved one can rest. Here is how our aides assist during recovery:

Care Need	How an Aide Helps
Personal Care	Assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting. Aides also help with oral care, skin care, and bladder or bowel management routines.
Mobility and Transfers	Help with walking and transferring in and out of bed or a chair. Caregivers provide steadying support when your loved one is weak from surgery.
Meals and Errands	Preparing meals, doing housework, washing linens and bath towels, and shopping for groceries. They handle the household chores your loved one cannot safely do.
Appointments	Accompanying your loved one into the community for follow-up doctor visits or trips to the pharmacy.

Need help at home after a hospital stay? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form and select “I am a client” then “I need services.”

Medicare home health vs. our help

Many families assume Medicare pays for all in-home help after surgery. This is not the case. Medicare home health covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for people who are homebound. It also covers medical social services and durable medical equipment.

Medicare will only pay for a home health aide if the aide is providing care alongside skilled nursing or therapy. Medicare does not cover 24-hour care or personal care when that is the only care needed.

New Century Home Care provides non-skilled services. Our aides do not perform skilled nursing tasks. This means they do not provide wound care, give injections, administer IVs, or do nursing assessments. Those tasks must be done by a licensed nurse or therapist.

Instead, our services focus on daily living. You can use our caregivers at the same time as a Medicare home health nurse or physical therapist. The nurse handles the medical recovery, while our aide helps with bathing, eating, and keeping the house running. Read more about how Medicare and Medicaid differ.

Fall risk after a hospital stay

After surgery, many people feel weaker and less steady for a while. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one out of four older people falls each year. Furthermore, about 4.5 million emergency department visits annually are due to older people falling, and nearly 319,000 are hospitalized for hip fractures.

Follow the medical team’s instructions about walking, equipment and activity limits, and clear the paths your loved one uses most.

A caregiver provides help with mobility to lower this risk. They assist with transferring out of deep chairs, getting out of bed, and walking safely to the bathroom. You can read more in our guide on preventing falls at home.

Warning signs during recovery

An aide cannot diagnose medical problems or give medical advice. When your loved one leaves the hospital, you will receive discharge instructions from the medical team. You must follow these instructions closely and keep the paperwork accessible.

Call the surgeon or your loved one’s primary care doctor if you notice any of the symptoms listed in their discharge packet.

If your loved one experiences a medical emergency, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for a scheduled doctor appointment or ask a home care aide to evaluate the symptoms.

How it is paid for in Philadelphia

Paying for specialized home support after surgery depends on your loved one’s insurance and financial situation. If your loved one needs long-term services and supports (LTSS) beyond a short recovery, they may qualify for Medicaid waivers.

Payer	Covers non-medical home care?	Notes
Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver	Yes, if approved	Covers Personal Assistance Services and respite care. The CHC service coordinator sets the approved hours in the person-centered service plan. PHLP says the application should not take more than 90 days; the waiver is meant for long-term needs.
Medicare	No, unless alongside skilled care	Only pays for a home health aide if the person is homebound and receiving skilled nursing or therapy. Does not cover personal care alone.
Private Pay	Yes	You pay out of pocket. We will explain our rates when you call to set up a schedule.
VA Benefits	Yes, for eligible veterans	Veterans may qualify for Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care or Veteran-Directed Care. A VA social worker determines clinical eligibility.
Long-Term Care Insurance	Depends on the policy	Check your specific policy details to see if post-surgery non-medical care is included and what waiting periods apply.

Can a family member be the paid caregiver?

If your loved one is enrolled in the Pennsylvania CHC waiver, a family member can be paid to provide their Personal Assistance Services. New Century Home Care hires family members to do this work under the agency model.

However, Pennsylvania rules prohibit certain relatives from being paid through the waiver. The CHC waiver will not pay for services provided by the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney (POA). Pandemic-era exceptions for these roles ended in May 2023.

If you do not hold one of these excluded roles, you can apply to work as their caregiver. You will need to pass all state background checks and competency requirements.

How to start with New Century

Setting up home care after a hospital discharge requires a clear plan. Here is how to start services with New Century Home Care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, or Chester counties.

1. Contact us: Call 215-974-0000 or fill out the form on our contact page. Choose “I am a client” and “I need services.” Our office staff speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian.
2. Discuss needs and payment: We will ask about your loved one’s daily needs, their schedule, and how they plan to pay for the care.
3. Coordinate with insurance: If your loved one is a CHC participant, you must tell their CHC service coordinator that you choose New Century Home Care. If you are paying privately, we will agree on a schedule and rates directly with you.
4. Caregiver requirements: Before starting, every direct care worker must pass Pennsylvania Department of Health requirements. This includes a criminal history report, a tuberculosis screening, and competency testing.

Ready to schedule post-surgery home care? Call 215-974-0000 today or submit our contact form by choosing “I am a client” and “I need services.”

Frequently asked questions

How to get home health care after surgery?

Medicare home health care, such as physical therapy or skilled nursing, is ordered through your doctor or the hospital discharge planner. If you need non-medical help with bathing, dressing, or household chores during recovery, you can contact a licensed home care agency directly to schedule support hours.

How long will I need help?

The duration depends entirely on your loved one’s physical recovery and medical instructions. Private pay home care schedules are flexible, allowing you to reduce hours as they regain strength. If using the CHC waiver, the service coordinator determines your approved hours in the person-centered service plan.

Does Medicare pay for an aide after surgery?

Medicare only pays for a home health aide if your loved one is homebound and currently receiving part-time or intermittent skilled nursing or physical therapy. Medicare does not cover 24-hour care or personal care aides if non-medical help is the only care your loved one needs.

Can you help with wound care?

No, wound care is a skilled nursing service. Our non-medical caregivers assist with daily living activities like bathing, meal preparation, and walking. They do not perform medical treatments, administer injections, manage IVs, or conduct nursing assessments. You will need a home health nurse for wound care.