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How to Start the Process of Getting Home Care in Indiana
Need help caring for a loved one at home? Here's where to start, what to prepare, and how to explore your options.
When a parent, spouse, or loved one begins struggling with everyday activities, families often have the same questions:
Who do we call first? How do we know what kind of care is needed? Can Medicaid help pay for services? And how long will the process take?
Finding home care can feel overwhelming, especially when you're already balancing work, family responsibilities, and concern for someone you love.
The good news is that you don't have to figure everything out at once.
Getting started begins with understanding your loved one's needs, identifying available resources, and choosing the right path to care.
If you're in Indiana, here's a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Step 1: Identify the Help Your Loved One Needs
Before contacting a home care provider, take some time to understand what has become difficult for your loved one.
Maybe your parent is recovering from a hospital stay. Perhaps your grandmother is having trouble preparing meals, or your spouse needs help with everyday activities.
Start by looking at the areas where support may be needed.
Ask yourself:
Does my loved one need help with bathing, dressing, or grooming?
Are meals, groceries, or household chores becoming difficult?
Is getting around the home becoming unsafe?
Would companionship or regular check-ins be helpful?
Is transportation to appointments a challenge?
Does my loved one need skilled medical care at home?
How often would assistance be needed?
Write down your observations and discuss them with your loved one whenever possible.
This information can help you explain the situation when speaking with a healthcare professional or home care agency.
Helpful tip: Focus on what your loved one can do independently, what they need help with, and what would make daily life safer or easier. The goal is to support independence, not take it away.
Step 2: Understand the Different Types of Home Care
Not all home care services are the same. Identifying the right type of support can help you avoid delays and contact the appropriate provider.
Non-medical home care
Non-medical home care focuses on assistance with everyday activities and personal support. Depending on the provider and care arrangement, services may include:
Personal care assistance
Bathing and dressing support
Meal preparation
Companionship
Light household tasks
Respite support for family caregivers
Help with everyday routines
Skilled home health care
Skilled home health care involves healthcare services provided by qualified professionals when medically appropriate. Depending on the individual's needs and eligibility, services may include skilled nursing, certain therapies, and other clinical care.
If your loved one needs medical treatment, wound care, or rehabilitation, speak with their healthcare provider about an appropriate referral and whether home health services are suitable.
Important: Non-medical home care and skilled home health care serve different purposes. A family may need one or both, depending on the person's circumstances.
Step 3: Explore Indiana's Home Care Programs
If you're concerned about the cost of care, Indiana has programs that may help eligible individuals access certain services at home.
However, eligibility, covered services, and the application process depend on the program and the individual's circumstances.
Indiana Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services
Indiana Medicaid's Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs support eligible individuals who receive approved services in their homes or community instead of an institutional setting.
Depending on the program and approved care plan, services may include personal assistance, respite care, home modifications, transportation, and other supports.
Learn more through the official Indiana Medicaid HCBS page.
Indiana PathWays for Aging
PathWays for Aging is Indiana's Medicaid managed care program for eligible Hoosiers age 60 and older who receive Medicaid benefits.
Not everyone enrolled in PathWays automatically qualifies for waiver services. Eligibility for particular home and community-based services depends on additional requirements and assessments.
If your loved one is already enrolled in PathWays, contact their health plan to discuss available supports and how to request an assessment.
Official resource: Indiana PathWays for Aging FAQs.
Aged and Disabled Waiver
Indiana's Aged and Disabled Waiver has transitioned to the PathWays for Aging Waiver for the older-adult population. The current waiver pathway and requirements depend on the person's circumstances and Medicaid eligibility.
Indiana's official Medicaid guidance explains available waiver services and how to begin the process.
Learn more: Indiana Aged and Disabled Waiver information.
Remember: Medicaid coverage is not automatic, and not every home care service is covered. The person must meet the applicable requirements, and services must be authorized under the relevant program.
Step 4: Contact the Appropriate Indiana Resource
If you aren't sure which program applies, you don't have to navigate the process alone.
For information about aging services, local resources, and referrals, start with Indiana's network of Area Agencies on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Centers.
These organizations can help families understand available services and identify next steps.
Find your local agency through the Indiana Area Agencies on Aging directory.
If you're applying for Medicaid coverage, Indiana also provides an official application process online, in person, by mail, or by phone.
Visit Indiana Medicaid: Apply for Coverage or call the Division of Family Resources at 1-800-403-0864 for application assistance.
Keep in mind that applying for Medicaid and qualifying for a particular waiver service are separate steps. A complete Medicaid application can take up to 90 days to process, depending on the circumstances.
Step 5: Prepare for an Assessment
Depending on the program, your loved one may need an assessment to determine their functional needs and eligibility for services.
An assessment may consider:
Mobility and ability to complete daily activities
Cognitive or functional support needs
Safety concerns at home
Existing medical and community support
The type and amount of assistance required
Be prepared to explain what is happening in everyday life. Specific examples are often more helpful than simply saying that someone is having difficulty.
For example, instead of saying, "Mom needs more help," you might explain that she has difficulty getting into the shower, cannot prepare meals safely, or needs assistance with dressing.
If your loved one is pursuing an Indiana Medicaid HCBS waiver, the state's current process may involve a Level of Care Assessment Representative, known as LCAR, for the applicable level-of-care assessment.
Read the official Indiana LCAR information for details.
Important: Assessment and authorization requirements differ by program. Contact the relevant agency or health plan to confirm the steps for your loved one's situation.
Step 6: Ask About Costs and Payment Options
One of the most important questions families have is, "How are we going to pay for care?"
The answer depends on the type of service, the person's eligibility, the provider, and the payment arrangement.
Possible options may include:
Private payment
Eligible Medicaid-covered services
Authorized home and community-based waiver services
Certain long-term care insurance benefits
Other community or assistance programs, when available
Before arranging services, ask the provider:
What services are available?
What are the rates and minimum service requirements?
Which payment methods are accepted?
Does the provider participate in the program I'm considering?
If Medicaid is involved, has the service been authorized?
Are there any costs the family may be responsible for?
Do not assume that Medicaid enrollment automatically covers every home care service. Confirm the provider's participation, the person's eligibility, and any required authorization before services begin.
Step 7: Choose a Home Care Provider Carefully
Once you understand the type of assistance needed, begin comparing providers.
A home care agency should be willing to explain its services, answer questions, and help you understand whether it may be a suitable fit.
Consider asking:
What services do you provide?
How do you assess a client's needs?
How are caregivers selected and trained?
How do you communicate with families?
What happens if a scheduled caregiver cannot attend?
How do you handle concerns or changes in care needs?
Do you accept the payment method or program relevant to my family?
Also ask how the agency protects client privacy and handles emergencies.
Choose a provider based on your loved one's needs, the services offered, the provider's qualifications, and the available payment arrangements.
Step 8: Create a Care Plan and Revisit It as Needs Change
Starting home care is not the end of the process.
Your loved one's needs may change over time. A plan that works today may need adjustments after an illness, a fall, a change in mobility, or a change in family availability.
Keep communication open with the provider and your loved one. Discuss what's working, what remains difficult, and whether the current support is sufficient.
A good care arrangement should be based on the individual's needs, preferences, and authorized services—not a one-size-fits-all schedule.
How Long Does It Take to Get Home Care in Indiana?
There is no single timeline for every family.
The process can depend on whether you are arranging private-pay services, seeking skilled home health care, applying for Medicaid, or pursuing an HCBS waiver.
Private-pay arrangements may be able to move forward once the provider has assessed the needs and confirmed availability. Skilled home health care may require a healthcare referral or other eligibility steps. Medicaid-funded services may require an application, assessment, eligibility determination, and service authorization.
Some waiver programs may also have waiting lists.
For that reason, start asking questions as soon as you recognize a need for help. Early planning gives your family more time to understand options and prepare for the next step.
A Simple Checklist: Getting Started With Home Care
Use this checklist to organize your next steps.
Write down the daily activities your loved one needs help with.
Talk with your loved one about their preferences and concerns.
Contact their healthcare professional if medical or functional changes need evaluation.
Explore private-pay home care and potentially applicable assistance programs.
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or relevant Medicaid health plan.
Gather the information needed for applications or assessments.
Compare home care providers and ask about services, costs, and payment options.
Confirm eligibility and authorization before relying on Medicaid-funded services.
Review the care plan as needs change.
You don't have to complete every step in one day. Start with the most urgent need and work from there.
Let Nurtured Home Care Help You Explore Your Options
Finding care for someone you love can bring up many questions. You may be unsure which services are appropriate, where to begin, or what kind of support would make the biggest difference.
At Nurtured Home Care Indiana, we understand that every family has its own circumstances.
We encourage families to begin with a conversation about their loved one's needs, daily routines, and goals. Understanding those needs is an important first step toward identifying suitable support.
If you're exploring home care in Fort Wayne, Elkhart, or the surrounding areas, reach out to learn more about our services and the options that may be available to your family.
You don't have to figure everything out alone. Let's start with a conversation.
Nurtured Home Care Indiana
Phone: (260) 418-9911
Website: www.nhcindiana.com
Serving Fort Wayne, Elkhart, and surrounding Indiana communities.
Official Resources
This article is for general educational purposes and does not guarantee eligibility for Medicaid, waiver services, or any particular home care benefit. Program requirements and covered services can change. Confirm current requirements with the appropriate Indiana agency or health plan.
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