Home Health Care Services
For many children and young adults with significant chronic illness, home health care is essential. Interviewing a home health care company to determine if they are able to meet the specific needs of your child and family is crucial to obtaining quality care.
The Center for Infants and Children with Special Needs at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center provides resources to help families find the home health care services and supports they need.
Financial Coverage | Intermittent Skilled Nursing | Private Duty Nursing | Home Infusion Therapy | Medical Equipment | Home Modifications | Emergency Plan | Additional Resources
Financial Coverage
Children with special health care needs often require home health care services, which can be costly to families. To help, here are some resources and information on applying for waivers:
Waiver programs are offered through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (ODMR/DD).
Ohio's Family Support Collaborative web site outlines the differences among the six Ohio waivers, including eligibility, services provided and application process. Financial eligibility is "waived" for these programs; however, there are medical criteria for eligibility. Other helpful, waiver-specific web sites include:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provides information on state waiver programs throughout the United States. This web site also offers information about Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare certified home health agencies can be located by state, county and zip code.
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Intermittent Skilled Nursing Visits
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Private Duty Nursing
- American Nursing Care: 513-731-4600
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton Counties) - Comprehensive Home Health Care: 513-245-0100
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton Counties) - Gentiva Health Services: 859-331-5800
(Northern Kentucky, Akron, Toledo, Youngstown) - Interim Healthcare: 513-984-1110
(Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties) - MCH: 513-771-2440
(Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Highland, Warren Counties) - Maxim Healthcare Services: 513-793-6444
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties) - Nurses Calling: 513-631-1400
(Butler, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble, Warren Counties) - Pediatric Nursing Care: 513-636-2999
(Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren Counties)
Considerations for Caregivers in Choosing a Private Duty Nursing Company
- Will the nurses assigned to my child's care all have pediatric nursing experience? What is the skill level I can expect from assigned nurses?
- Are the nursing hours scheduled according to the needs of my child and my family? How much input do I have regarding the scheduling of hours? Note: Most nursing shifts are based on the timing of the child's skilled care needs.
- Does the company guarantee shift coverage? Will I be able to have the nurses that I want? Note: Nursing is usually not a guarentee and there may be unfilled shifts. Therefore, it is important for families to train as many people as possible in your child's care. Hospital nursing staff or the nursing agency can provide training for family members and friends.
- How long will my insurance company / Medicaid pay for skilled nurses?
- Who is available during and after business hours should I have questions or concerns?
- What happens if I do not want a nurse to return to my home because of personality conflict or problems with the nursing care?
- Will I be expected to train nurses in the care of my child or do the nurses familiar with the care do that?
- Will the nurse be able to accompany my child to physician appointments?
- Will my child be assigned a primary nurse, or do nurses rotate and if so how often?
- How do nurses communicate with each other about my child's health status and the nursing care goals?
- How will my family's privacy be maintained?
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Home Infusion Therapy
Caregiver Questions in Choosing a Home Infusion Therapy Company
- Does the company employ staff experienced with pediatrics, both newborn infants and young children?
- Will someone teach me how to give my child's IV medication or tube feeding before we go home?
- How will I be receiving medications and supplies and will my insurance / Medicaid pay for them?
- Who is available to answer my questions / concerns after regular business hours and on weekends?
- If my child's IV comes out who will re-start it?
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Home Medical Equipment
- Cincinnati Children's Home Health Care: 513-636-4663
- American Home Patient has infusion therapy, nutrition and respiratory products and equipment. They also have wheelchairs, lift chairs and scooters. You can reach their Cincinnati office at 513-769-7500 or 800-418-9512. You can also find their other locations.
- Apria Healthcare: 513-772-1907
- Bernens (Western Hills): 513-471-7575
- Chartwell Home Medical of America: 513-794-7590
- Cornerstone Medical provides equipment including wheelchairs and hospital beds: 513-554-0222
- Hamilton Assistive Technology Services: 513-923-3300
- Health Care Solutions: 513-271-5115
- Kunkels / Anderson: 513-231-1943
- Lincare: 513-272-6050
- Midstate Medical Oxygen & Equipment Inc: 513-741-8000
- MyMedMart provides home health care equipment and supplies to home care patients, clinics, home care providers and organizations through direct access to their interactive web site.
- Rothert's: 859-431-5900
- RSVP Home Care: 859-727-7600
Second Home, a program developed under the
Child Wellness Fair, facilitates the donation of medical equipment and supplies and helps connect families with needed resources.
Caregiver Questions for Choosing a Home Medical Equipment Company
- Does my insurance / Medicaid pay for the home equipment my child's needs? Will I have a co-payment?
- Will someone teach me how to operate the equipment before my child is discharged from the hospital?
- Does the equipment company have pediatric staff experience in working with both newborn infants and young children?
- What happens if there are equipment problems after regular office hours or on weekends? What is the response time? What provisions are made for back-up equipment?
- Note: Many equipment companies can provide diapers and formula and can deliver them with you other supplies.
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Home Modifications
Home modifications can be essential in allowing individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes, with as much independence as possible. Examples of home modifications can include:
- Constructing ramps
- Widening doors and changing from knobs to levers
- Lowering countertops
- Installing grab bars, shower seats and walk-in bathtubs
- Installing a stair glide or elevator
A tax deduction can often be taken to reflect the cost of home modifications as a medical deduction. Home modifications must be certified by a physician as being required for health reasons. Other financial resources may be available to to help families pay for home modifications.
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Emergency Plan
If you have a child with special needs, you may need to take extra steps to prepare in the event of an emergency. Resources are available to help you develop an emergency plan.
American Red Cross provides a comprehensive guide to prepare for emergencies for people with disabilities.
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Additional Resources
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If your questions are not fully answered by our Special Needs Resource Directory and its links, please contact us via email.
Rev. 4/08
