Short answer: When your loved one returns home after a stroke, they may need physical help and supervision to stay safe. New Century Home Care provides non-medical personal care and mobility assistance in Philadelphia to support their daily routine.

What stroke survivors often need help with at home

Stroke recovery often brings physical changes, such as one-sided weakness, fatigue, and difficulty speaking or walking. A non-medical home care aide assists with daily living activities so your loved one can focus on their rehabilitation. Under Pennsylvania law, home care aides provide non-skilled support, meaning they do not perform medical tasks like wound care, injections, or medication administration.

Daily Need	How a home care aide helps
Personal hygiene	Assistance with bathing, shaving, grooming, skin care, and oral care.
Dressing	Helping put on clothes, especially when one side of the body is weak or paralyzed.
Moving around safely	Support with ambulation and transferring in and out of bed or a deep chair to reduce fall risks.
Nutrition	Preparing meals, feeding assistance, and cleaning dishes from meal preparation.
Therapy support	Accompanying your loved one into the community for therapy appointments and encouraging them during routine home exercises.

Know the signs of another stroke: BE FAST

Under Pennsylvania regulations, our caregivers complete competency training that includes recognizing changes in the consumer and handling emergencies. If an aide notices signs of a stroke, they are trained to note the time the symptoms started and call 911 right away. They will wait with the patient for an ambulance and will not drive the person to the hospital.

The CDC recommends the BE FAST method to spot sudden warning signs:

• Balance: Sudden loss of coordination, balance, or trouble walking.
• Eyes: Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.
• Face: Sudden numbness or weakness, especially if one side of the face droops.
• Arms: Sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, causing one arm to drift down.
• Speech: Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
• Time: Call 911 immediately.

Medicare after a stroke

Many families ask if Medicare pays for home care after a stroke. Medicare covers part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for people who are homebound. It also covers home health aide care, but only alongside that skilled care.

Medicare does not pay for 24-hour care or non-medical personal care when that is the only care your loved one needs. To understand the exact boundaries between these programs, read our guide on Medicare and Medicaid coverage differences. Our aides provide the ongoing, non-medical hours that keep your loved one safe between their skilled Medicare therapy visits.

If you need non-medical support for a stroke survivor, call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000. You can also fill out our online form and select “I am a client” followed by “I need services.” Our office staff speaks English, Russian, and Ukrainian.

Long-term help through Medicaid

If your loved one needs ongoing help with daily tasks, they may qualify for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver. The CHC waiver is Pennsylvania’s Medicaid managed care program for adults 21 and older who have Medicare and Medicaid, or who need long-term services and supports. Participants in the Southeast zone choose from Keystone First CHC (AmeriHealth Caritas), Pennsylvania Health & Wellness or UPMC Community HealthChoices; New Century works with Keystone First CHC.

To qualify for the waiver, an assessor from the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) performs a Functional Eligibility Determination (FED). They evaluate cognition and activities of daily living based on the last three days. For example, your loved one may be functionally eligible if they require hands-on help with three or more activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, walking, toileting, and eating. Learn more about the functional and financial rules for CHC eligibility.

How it is paid for in Philadelphia

Paying for specialized non-medical support depends on your loved one’s insurance and financial situation.

Payer	Covers this?	Notes
Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver	Yes	Covers Personal Assistance Services and respite care if the applicant is waiver-approved. The CHC service coordinator sets the exact hours in a person-centered service plan.
Medicare	No	Only covers home health aides when provided alongside skilled nursing or therapy for homebound patients.
Private Pay	Yes	You pay out of pocket for the schedule you choose. Rates are explained during your initial call.
Veterans Affairs (VA)	Yes	Eligible veterans may use VA Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care or Veteran-Directed Care. Start by asking a VA social worker.
Long-Term Care Insurance	Varies	Coverage depends entirely on your specific policy terms and waiting periods.

Can a family member be the paid caregiver?

Yes, family members can get paid to provide care through the CHC waiver. You can work as a paid caregiver through a licensed agency like New Century Home Care or through the Services My Way participant-directed model.

The CHC waiver will not pay the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney. Read more about how to become a paid caregiver for your relative.

How to start with New Century

Here is how to set up care in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties.

1. Contact us by calling 215-974-0000 or visiting our contact page. Choose “I am a client” and “I need services” on the form.
2. We will ask about your loved one’s daily needs, preferred schedule, and how you plan to pay.
3. If you use the CHC waiver, tell your CHC service coordinator you choose New Century Home Care. If you pay privately, we will agree on a schedule together.
4. We match you with a caregiver who has passed all Pennsylvania requirements, including a criminal history report, a tuberculosis screening, and a competency exam.

To arrange help at home during stroke recovery: Call 215-974-0000 today or submit our contact form, selecting “I am a client” and “I need services.”

Frequently asked questions

Will Medicare pay for in-home care after a stroke?

Medicare pays for part-time skilled nursing and therapies for homebound patients. It also covers a home health aide only if you are receiving skilled care at the same time. Medicare does not pay for long-term, non-medical personal care.

Do stroke patients recover?

Recovery varies for every individual based on the stroke’s severity and the person’s overall health. Follow the guidance of your loved one’s medical rehabilitation team. Our home care aides support the daily routine so the patient can focus on their prescribed therapies.

What can I do to help stroke recovery at home?

You can help by maintaining a consistent daily routine, removing tripping hazards to improve safety, and following the home exercise program provided by the physical therapist. Read our fall prevention guide to make the home safer.

Can your aide do the exercises from physical therapy?

Home care aides provide non-skilled services. They cannot perform physical therapy or skilled medical tasks. However, they can encourage your loved one and assist them while they complete the routine home exercise program set by their licensed therapist.