Home Care Resources for Philadelphia Families and Caregivers
Home Care Resources for Philadelphia Families and Caregivers
Short answer: This resource hub provides Pennsylvania-specific guides on Medicaid waivers, paying family caregivers, dementia support, and home safety. Find the facts you need to arrange home care in Philadelphia.
- Guides to applying for the Pennsylvania Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver.
- Rules for paying family members to provide home care in Philadelphia.
- Safety checklists, dementia care strategies, and senior care options.
- A directory of free local help lines, including PCA and PHLP.
The New Century Home Care team created this library to answer your questions about non-medical home care in Philadelphia. Finding the right support for an older adult requires accurate information about state regulations and local programs. Every guide relies on facts from state and local authorities, including the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA), and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Paying for care & Medicaid
The Pennsylvania Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver covers home care for eligible adults who need long-term services and supports. This section explains the financial limits, the 5-year look-back period, and the functional assessment process. Read our guide to paying for care and Medicaid.
New Century Home Care is a non-medical home care agency in Philadelphia that also works with families in the four surrounding counties. For free local programs that pair well with care at home, see our Philadelphia Senior Resource Guide.
Getting paid as a family caregiver
Pennsylvania allows family members to earn wages for providing personal care. You can work through a licensed agency or the Services My Way participant-directed model. The CHC waiver does not pay the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee or POA. Learn the rules about getting paid as a family caregiver.
Care options & costs
Knowing the median cost of care in Pennsylvania helps you plan for the future. We explain the differences between non-medical home care, Medicare home health, and adult day centers. Explore our section on care options and costs.
Dementia care
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease requires specific communication and safety strategies. We cover the early, middle, and late stages of the disease. Access our dementia care resources to learn how to manage behaviors like wandering and sundowning.
Senior care
Recognizing when an older adult needs help is the first step toward getting support. This section covers advance directives, legal planning, and daily living assistance. Review our senior care articles to understand how assessors evaluate needs for activities of daily living (ADLs).
If you need to start non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, or Chester county, contact New Century Home Care. Call 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form and choose “I am a client” then “I need services.”
Home safety
Simple changes prevent falls and keep older adults safe at home. Using guidelines from the CDC, we provide checklists for lighting, bathroom grab bars, and emergency preparedness. Browse our home safety guides.
Caregiver support
Caregiving can be exhausting. We list local support groups, respite care options, and the Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program. Find help in our caregiver support section, which also explains unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Caregiver career guide
Pennsylvania requires specific background checks, tuberculosis screening, and competency testing for direct care workers. We outline the hiring process and job requirements for aides. Read our caregiver career guide.
Most-asked questions
- What is the cost of home care in Philadelphia?
- How do you apply for the CHC waiver?
- Can a spouse or power of attorney get paid for caregiving?
- How do you prevent falls? Read our fall prevention guide.
- What are the signs you need home care?
Free help lines in Philadelphia
| Organization | Phone Number | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) | 215-765-9040 | 24/7 reporting for elder abuse and local aging program intake. |
| Independent Enrollment Broker (IEB) | 1-877-550-4227 | Start the application for the Pennsylvania CHC waiver. |
| Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) | 1-800-274-3258 | Free legal help for Medicaid eligibility denials and appeals. |
| Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter | 800-272-3900 | 24/7 helpline for dementia support and local resource connections. |
Let our team assist your family with non-medical home care. We speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian. Call 215-974-0000 or use our contact form, selecting “I am a client” and “I need services.”
Frequently asked questions
What does the PA Department of Aging do for seniors?
The Pennsylvania Department of Aging funds programs for older adults through local Area Agencies on Aging. In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) handles these services. They manage protective services, the Caregiver Support Program, and functional assessments for Medicaid waivers.
What assistance programs are available in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia residents can access the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver for long-term home care, the LIFE program for all-inclusive medical and social services, and the PA Caregiver Support Program. Veterans may also qualify for VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care.
How to get home health care for seniors?
Medicare covers skilled home health care, such as nursing or physical therapy, when prescribed by a doctor for homebound patients. For non-medical help with daily living, families use private pay, long-term care insurance, or the Pennsylvania CHC Medicaid waiver.
Non-medical home care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Medicaid CHC (Keystone First) and private pay. We speak English, Russian and Ukrainian.
Request care