Why choose Sentara Home Care Services?
Quality care meets the comfort of home
Physicians, patients, and family members experience the ease of partnering with just one home care agency and the peace of mind that comes with knowing the agency is backed by Sentara, a nationally recognized health system renowned for its excellence in care. We work closely with physicians to coordinate the multiple therapies and services each patient may require – from skilled nursing care and rehabilitative services to infusion therapy and hospice care.
We are here to help
Our home care team understands that the process of starting home care is new to most of our patients. From your first contact with us through your home care journey, we provide highly skilled, compassionate and experienced experts who will guide you with care.
Our financial counselors can help determine insurance reimbursement, get authorizations, and file the necessary paperwork to get started. We accept most major insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Our highly credentialed, carefully selected and screened staff treat patients and family members with the utmost care and respect.
Every person’s health journey is unique, and so are their home care needs. At Sentara Home Care Services, our experienced intake specialists provide an initial phone evaluation at no cost. During this call, we’ll talk with you about your health needs, home environment, and personal goals.
Sentara Home Care Services is Medicare and Medicaid certified by the Department of Health and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). The ACHC organization validates our policies, processes, and care delivery, ensuring we meet recognized standards for quality and safety. The result of the accreditation is a higher level of performance and a greater focus on patient care.
Sentara Home Care Services also belongs to a number of local, state and national organizations, including:
- American Association of Home Care
- American Hospital Association
- National Association of Home Care
- Virginia Association of Home Care
- Voluntary Hospitals of America
You can be confident that our highly credentialed, carefully selected and screened staff will treat patients and family members with the utmost care and respect.
- Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses (RN, LPN)
- Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses (WOCN)
- Certified Wound Care Nurses (CWCN)
- Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI)
- Physical and occupational therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP)
- Home Health Aides (HHA)
- Medical Social Workers (MSW)
- Pharmacists
- Medical directors
- Pastoral counselors
- Registered Dietitians (RD)
- Bereavement coordinators
- Volunteer coordinators
- Care transition coordinators
A guide to choosing a skilled home care provider
Choosing the right home care provider is an important decision for you and for your family and caregivers. The right partner can make all the difference in your comfort, safety and quality of life at home. To help you feel confident in your choice, we’ve created a checklist of key questions to ask and qualities to look for when comparing home care agencies.
Step-by-step checklist for choosing a home health provider
- Determine if you need skilled care (nursing, therapy) or non-medical care (help with bathing, meals, errands).
- Ask your doctor or hospital discharge planner to write down exact orders or recommendations.
- Ask your doctor, hospital case manager, or social worker for referrals.
- Check your insurance provider directory or Medicare Care Compare.
- Ask friends, family or support groups for personal recommendations.
- Verify the agency is licensed by your state health department or certified by Medicare and/or Medicaid.
- Look for Medicare certification if you plan to use Medicare benefits.
- Verify accreditation from reputable organizations, such as The Joint Commission or CHAP.
- Ensure they accept your insurance or preferred payment method.
- Speak with your healthcare provider and others who can talk to you about the reputation of the agencies you’re considering. Your healthcare provider is often the best first resource for this information, since they’re also familiar with your personal needs.
- Ask how long they’ve been in business and about staff turnover rates (low turnover often means happier, more experienced staff).
- If possible, speak to current or past clients about their experiences.
Questions to ask:
- What services do you provide, and what is not included?
- How do you screen, train, and supervise staff?
- Will the same caregivers come each time?
- How do you handle emergencies or last-minute schedule changes?
- How do you communicate with families about the patient’s progress or concerns?
- Can you provide references from past clients?
- Compare services, costs, reviews, and overall fit with your family’s values.
- Choose the agency that balances quality, trust, and affordability—not just the lowest price.