Home Care Services in Atlanta: How to Find the Right Support for Your Loved One

Finding home care services in Atlanta can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re just starting to explore options for an aging parent, a family member with a disability, or someone recovering from an illness or surgery. Atlanta has a wide range of in-home care resources, but understanding what’s available—and what fits your situation—is key.

This guide walks you through types of home care in Atlanta, how services are typically arranged and paid for, what to look for in a provider, and where to turn locally for help.

What “Home Care Services” Means in Atlanta

In Atlanta, home care usually falls into three broad categories:

1. Non-medical home care (personal care / companion care)
   Help with daily activities, usually provided by caregivers or home care aides.
2. Home health care (skilled care)
   Medical services ordered by a doctor and provided by nurses or therapists at home.
3. Specialized or supportive in-home services
   For example, dementia-focused care, respite care for family caregivers, or hospice services delivered at home.

Many Atlanta families use a combination of these, depending on medical needs, safety concerns, and how much help the family can provide.

Common Types of Home Care Services Available in Atlanta

Non-Medical Home Care (Private Duty / Personal Care)

These services help someone stay safe and comfortable at home, but do not provide medical treatment. They’re common in neighborhoods across Atlanta, from Buckhead and Midtown to Decatur, East Point, and the Southside.

Typical non-medical services include:

• Personal care (hands-on help)
  • Bathing, dressing, grooming
  • Toileting and incontinence care
  • Assistance with walking and transfers
• Household support
  • Light housekeeping, laundry, changing linens
  • Meal planning and preparation
  • Basic pet care (varies by agency)
• Companionship and supervision
  • Conversation and social engagement
  • Accompanying to appointments, errands, or walks
  • Safety “check-in” visits
• Transportation support
  • Accompanying the person in a car or rideshare to appointments or shopping

These services are usually provided by certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides, or personal care aides, employed by a licensed agency or hired privately.

Home Health Care (Skilled Medical Care at Home)

Home health care in Atlanta is medical and must be ordered by a physician. It is often used after a hospitalization (for example, at Emory University Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital, Piedmont Atlanta, or Northside Hospital) or when a chronic condition becomes more complex.

Services may include:

• Skilled nursing
  • Wound care and dressing changes
  • Medication management and injections
  • Monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar, or other health indicators
• Therapy services
  • Physical therapy (PT) for mobility and strength
  • Occupational therapy (OT) for daily living skills and adaptive equipment
  • Speech therapy (ST) for swallowing or communication issues
• Medical social work
  • Support with care planning, resources, and transitions

Home health visits are usually short and intermittent (e.g., a few times a week), not all-day care. Many families pair home health with non-medical home care for full coverage.

Specialized In-Home Support

In the Atlanta area, you can also find more specialized home-based services, such as:

• Dementia and Alzheimer’s-focused care
  Caregivers trained to support memory loss, reduce agitation, and create safe routines.
• Respite care
  Short-term relief for family caregivers so they can rest, travel, or manage work.
• Palliative and hospice care at home
  Medical teams that focus on comfort, symptom management, and family support in advanced illness.
• Post-surgical or short-term recovery assistance
  Help during a temporary period after surgery or illness to regain independence.

Typical Service Options and Schedules in Atlanta

Agencies in Metro Atlanta generally offer flexible schedules:

• Hourly care (e.g., 4–12 hours per day)
• Part-time or a few days per week
• Overnight care
• 24/7 or live-in care (continuous support in the home)

Many agencies have a minimum number of hours per visit (often 3–4 hours). Coverage can be more limited in some areas outside the Perimeter (I-285), so it’s useful to ask specifically about service availability in your ZIP code.

How Home Care Is Regulated in Georgia

If you’re arranging care in Atlanta, it helps to know how Georgia oversees providers:

• The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) licenses many home health and some personal care providers.
• Home health agencies providing medical care must be licensed and meet specific standards.
• Non-medical home care agencies may operate under different rules depending on the services they provide; many reputable agencies still follow background checks, training, and supervision standards even when not strictly required.

You can contact:

Georgia Department of Community Health – Healthcare Facility Regulation Division
2 Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 657-5700

They can help you verify licenses and explain regulatory categories.

Paying for Home Care Services in Atlanta

How you pay for home care in Atlanta depends mainly on whether care is medical or non-medical, and on the person’s age, income, and insurance.

Private Pay (Out of Pocket)

Many Atlanta families pay privately for non-medical home care:

• Hourly rates vary by level of care, time of day, and location (inside vs. outside the Perimeter).
• Weekends, nights, and specialized dementia care may cost more.

You can ask agencies for a written rate sheet and clarify what’s included (e.g., holidays, mileage, minimum visit length).

Medicare

Medicare may cover home health care (skilled services), but not long-term personal care or companionship.

Generally, for Medicare-covered home health in Atlanta:

• A doctor must order the services.
• The person is typically considered homebound (leaving home requires considerable effort).
• A Medicare-certified home health agency must provide the care.

Covered services may include nursing and therapy visits but typically not 24-hour care, housekeeping, or ongoing personal care.

For info or to find Medicare-certified agencies serving Atlanta, you can call:
Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

Medicaid and Georgia’s Home- and Community-Based Services

For those with lower income and limited assets, Georgia Medicaid may help with some in-home services through special programs and waivers.

In the Atlanta area, common programs include:

• Community Care Services Program (CCSP) – helps older adults and adults with disabilities receive services at home instead of in a nursing facility.
• Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment (SOURCE) – integrates primary care and supportive services for eligible adults who are elderly or disabled.

These programs may offer:

• Personal care assistance
• Adult day health programs
• Home-delivered meals
• Emergency response systems

To ask about eligibility or apply in Metro Atlanta, a primary entry point is your local Area Agency on Aging (see the “Where to Get Local Help” section below).

Long-Term Care Insurance

Some Atlanta residents have long-term care insurance that may cover:

• Non-medical home care
• Home health services
• Adult day care or respite care

If your family member has a policy, call the insurer to ask:

• What services are covered
• Required documentation
• Whether care must be provided by a licensed agency

Veterans’ Benefits

Veterans in Atlanta may qualify for in-home care assistance through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including programs like:

• Aid and Attendance benefits
• Homemaker/Home Health Aide services
• Respite care for caregivers

Local support is available here:

Atlanta VA Health Care System (Main Campus)
1670 Clairmont Road
Decatur, GA 30033
Phone: (404) 321-6111

Ask for information on home and community-based services or speak with a VA social worker.

Comparing Types of Home Care in Atlanta

Use this quick comparison to clarify which kind of service you might need:

How to Choose a Home Care Provider in Atlanta

Step 1: Clarify Needs

Start by listing what help is really needed in daily life, such as:

• Bathing and dressing
• Toileting or incontinence care
• Meal preparation and feeding
• Walking, transfers, or fall risk
• Medication reminders or management
• Transportation to doctors (e.g., near Midtown, Sandy Springs, or Fayetteville)
• Companionship or supervision for dementia or confusion

If there are serious medical concerns, ask the person’s primary care physician or specialist if home health services are appropriate.

Step 2: Decide Agency vs. Private Hire

In Atlanta, you generally have two main paths:

1. Hire through a home care or home health agency
   • The agency handles background checks, payroll, taxes, coverage if a caregiver is sick, and training.
2. Hire privately (independent caregivers)
   • May cost less per hour but you are responsible for vetting, scheduling, and tax/employment issues.

Many families in Atlanta choose agencies for simplicity, especially when care needs are complex or schedules are demanding.

Step 3: Ask the Right Questions

When interviewing agencies serving Atlanta and nearby suburbs, you might ask:

• Licensing and oversight
  • Are you licensed in Georgia, and if so, under what category?
  • Do you provide non-medical care, medical care, or both?
• Caregiver qualifications
  • Are caregivers CNAs or home health aides?
  • What training do they receive, especially for dementia or mobility issues?
  • Are background checks and driving record checks completed?
• Care planning and supervision
  • Who does the initial in-home assessment (nurse, care manager)?
  • How is the care plan created and updated?
  • How is the quality of care monitored?
• Scheduling and coverage
  • What is your minimum number of hours per visit?
  • Can we request the same caregiver consistently?
  • What happens if a caregiver is sick or running late?
• Costs and billing
  • What are your hourly rates, and do rates differ evenings/weekends?
  • Are there additional fees (e.g., for holidays or mileage)?
  • Do you help with insurance or long-term care claims?

📝 Tip: For in-town Atlanta addresses (e.g., Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, West End), clarify whether there are any parking or access constraints (condos, gated buildings) that might affect service.

Safety and Quality Considerations

When bringing someone into a home in Atlanta—whether a high-rise in Midtown or a house in Southwest Atlanta—safety and trust are essential.

Vetting Caregivers

For both agency and private hires, it’s reasonable to:

• Request written references or contact information for prior clients or employers.
• Confirm criminal background checks and eligibility to work in the U.S.
• Ask about training in emergency procedures, fall prevention, and infection control.

Home Safety in Atlanta Settings

Atlanta homes vary: older houses in neighborhoods like Kirkwood or Cascade might have stairs and narrow doorways, while newer buildings in Buckhead or Sandy Springs may have elevators but long hallways.

Consider:

• Installing grab bars in bathrooms and railings on stairs.
• Using non-slip mats and clearing clutter from walkways.
• Ensuring adequate lighting in entryways and hallways.
• Planning safe, well-lit parking or drop-off areas, especially in busy or urban areas.

Home health therapists often help evaluate and suggest changes to improve safety.

Where to Get Local Help and Information in Atlanta

Several organizations in and around Atlanta can guide you through home care options, funding, and caregiver support.

Atlanta Regional Commission – Aging & Independence Services

This is the Area Agency on Aging for Metro Atlanta and a central hub for senior services, caregiver support, and home- and community-based programs.

Atlanta Regional Commission – Aging & Independence Services
229 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30303
Aging & Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) Helpline: (404) 463-3333

They can:

• Explain programs like CCSP and SOURCE
• Help connect you to vetted home care providers and community resources
• Provide caregiver education and support options

Fulton County Senior Services

If your loved one lives in Atlanta/Fulton County, this department can help with local services such as in-home support, meals, and senior centers:

Fulton County Department of Senior Services
137 Peachtree Street SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 613-6000

DeKalb and Other Surrounding Counties

If you live in Decatur, Stone Mountain, or other parts of DeKalb or nearby counties, there are county-level senior or human services departments that can help connect you to home-based supports. When you call the Atlanta Regional Commission’s ADRC line, they can direct you to the correct office for your county.

Georgia Department of Human Services – Division of Aging Services

The state’s aging services division oversees many home and community-based aging programs, including caregiver support.

Georgia Division of Aging Services
2 Peachtree Street NW, 33rd Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main Phone: (404) 657-5258

They can help you understand statewide programs that are delivered locally in Metro Atlanta.

Practical Next Steps for Atlanta Families

If you’re just starting to look into home care services in Atlanta, a simple way to move forward is:

1. List daily needs and safety concerns for your loved one.
2. Talk to their primary care doctor about whether home health (skilled) services are appropriate.
3. Call the Atlanta Regional Commission’s ADRC at (404) 463-3333 to ask about local programs, financial assistance options, and reputable agencies.
4. Interview at least two or three home care providers that serve your specific ZIP code.
5. Start with a trial period, review how things are going after a few weeks, and adjust hours or services as needed.

By using local Atlanta resources and asking detailed questions, you can build a home care plan that supports both your loved one’s safety and your family’s peace of mind.