In-Home Care in Philadelphia: What Families Should Know Before Hiring

“In-home care” and “home care” mean the same thing — non-medical daily living support provided in the home. But families who search “in-home care Philadelphia” tend to be at a
slightly different point than those searching “home care agencies.” They’re usually earlier in the process, still figuring out what exists and how it works.

If that’s you, here’s what matters before you hire anyone.

The Three Things to Understand First

1. Medicaid likely covers it.  Before you call a single agency, check whether your loved one qualifies for Medicaid. If they do, in-home care through Community HealthChoices is covered at no out-of-pocket cost. Calling agencies and asking about private-pay rates before checking Medicaid is the most expensive mistake families make.

2. You may not need an agency at all — or not in the way you think.  If your family wants a relative to provide the care, Participant-Directed Services lets you hire that person through Medicaid. They become a W-2 employee. The agency (CareChoice) handles the payroll and compliance, but the family member does the actual caregiving. This isn’t agency-assigned care— it’s family care with professional infrastructure.

3. Not all agencies accept Medicaid.  Some Philadelphia agencies only do private pay. If your loved one is on Medicaid, confirm the agency is credentialed with their MCO before investing time in a consultation.

What In-Home Care Covers

Personal care (bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, eating, mobility), homemaker services(meals, housekeeping, laundry), medication reminders, companionship and supervision, errands and grocery shopping, and transportation to medical appointments.

For a full breakdown of service types, see our types of home care guide.

How to Hire the Right Provider

Use the evaluation checklist we published for Philadelphia families. The short version: confirm MCO credentialing, confirm PDS capability (if family caregiving is the goal), test responsiveness by calling unannounced, ask about onboarding timelines, and check references.

What CareChoice Offers

CareChoice provides both agency-directed in-home care and PDS-based family caregiving across Philadelphia and the
surrounding counties. We work with all three Southeast Zone MCOs and serve every neighborhood in the city.

Contact CareChoice → Philadelphia team

Written by Jailah Johnson, Community Engagement Coordinator | CareChoice