How to Choose a Home Health Agency in Tennessee

Not all home health agencies are equal — and when your loved one needs skilled nursing or physical therapy at home, the difference matters enormously. Here's how to evaluate your options.

Start with Medicare certification. If your loved one is Medicare-eligible and their doctor has ordered home health care after a hospitalization or for managing a chronic condition, Medicare will cover it — but only through Medicare-certified agencies. This certification means the agency has met federal standards for quality and safety. Always ask: 'Are you Medicare-certified?'

Check the Home Health Compare tool. Medicare publishes quality ratings for every certified home health agency at medicare.gov/care-compare. Look at the star ratings, but also look at the specific quality measures: How often do patients improve in walking? How often are patients admitted to the hospital? These numbers tell you more than a star rating alone.

Ask about nurse-to-patient ratios. A lower ratio means your loved one's nurse has more time to spend with them. Ask specifically: 'How many patients does each nurse typically manage?' A good agency will answer this directly.

Understand the care coordinator role. The best agencies assign a dedicated care coordinator — someone who knows your loved one's case, communicates with the doctor, and is your point of contact when questions arise. Ask: 'Who will be our main contact, and how do we reach them after hours?'

Ask about response time for urgent needs. Home health care happens at home, which means urgent needs can arise at any hour. Ask specifically about after-hours response: 'If my mother falls at 11 p.m. and needs a nurse, what happens?' The answer will tell you a lot about the agency's culture.