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Referrals & Community Partners

Referrals & Community Partners

  At Assisting Hands Home Care of Chattanooga, we focus on non-medical in-home care—things like personal care, companionship, meal prep, transportation, light housekeeping, and support for family caregivers.

But we also know that families often need more than one kind of help.

That’s why we proudly connect our clients and their families with trusted community partners when medical or specialized services are needed. We can’t provide medical care ourselves, but we can help you navigate your options and connect you with:Referrals & Community Partners

  • Home health agencies

  • Hospice providers

  • Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs)

  • Inpatient and outpatient rehab programs

  • Primary care providers (PCPs)

Our goal is simple: if we’re not the right solution for a need you have, we’ll help you find someone who is.

How Our Referral Support Works

When we notice a need outside of what non-medical home care can safely provide, we can:

  1. Listen to your concerns
    We’ll talk through what you’re noticing at home—changes in mobility, health, behavior, mood, safety, or caregiver burnout.

  2. Explain what type of provider might help
    We’ll help you understand whether this sounds more like a home health, hospice, rehab, SNF, or PCP issue.

  3. Share trusted options
    We can give you names and contact information for local organizations and providers we see families work with successfully.

  4. Coordinate with your permission
    With your approval, we can share basic information with your chosen provider to help make the transition smoother and avoid repeating your story over and over.

We never receive payment for referrals. Our recommendations are based on what we see working well for families in our community.

Who We Refer To (and Why)

Home Health

What it is:
Home health is medical care at home ordered by a doctor. It’s typically short-term and focused on a specific medical need.

May include:

  • Skilled nursing visits (wound care, injections, monitoring)

  • Physical, occupational, or speech therapy

  • Medication management and education

  • Post-surgery or post-hospital care

When we might suggest home health:

  • A client has a recent fall, surgery, or hospital stay

  • Wounds are not healing as expected

  • There are frequent medication changes or confusion about instructions

  • A doctor has mentioned “home health” but the family isn’t sure how to start

We can help you understand the difference between home health (medical) and home care (non-medical) and make sure you’re asking your doctor the right questions.

Hospice

What it is:
Hospice is specialized medical support for people with a serious or terminal illness who are focusing on comfort, quality of life, and support—not cure. Hospice can be provided at home, in a facility, or in a hospice house.

May include:

  • Regular visits from nurses

  • Access to 24/7 medical support by phone

  • Medications and equipment for comfort

  • Social work, chaplain, and emotional/spiritual support

  • Grief support for families

When we might suggest hospice:

  • There have been multiple hospitalizations in a short time

  • The doctor has talked about “comfort care” or a limited prognosis

  • The family is overwhelmed and wants more support at home

  • Pain or symptoms are hard to control

We can’t make hospice decisions for you, but we can explain what hospice does and doesn’t do, and connect you with local hospice agencies to explore your options.

Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)

What they are:
Skilled nursing facilities combine 24-hour nursing care with rehabilitation services. Some people go to a SNF right after a hospital stay for short-term rehab; others may need longer-term care.

May include:

  • 24/7 nursing care

  • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy

  • Medication management and monitoring

  • Coordination of medical treatments and appointments

When we might suggest a SNF:

  • Someone is too medically complex or fragile to be safely cared for at home

  • There are frequent emergencies or hospital trips

  • The family cannot safely provide the level of care needed, even with non-medical caregivers

If you’re unsure whether home or a SNF makes more sense, we can talk through what you’re experiencing and help you understand questions to ask facilities and your healthcare providers.

Rehab (Inpatient & Outpatient)

What it is:
Rehab focuses on helping someone regain strength, mobility, and independence after an illness, surgery, or injury.

Types of rehab:

  • Inpatient rehab: Short stay in a facility with intensive therapy

  • Outpatient rehab: Therapy a few times a week at a clinic

  • Home-based rehab: Therapy provided in the home through a home health agency

When we might suggest rehab:

  • After a stroke, joint replacement, fracture, or major surgery

  • When walking, balance, or mobility have suddenly declined

  • When someone is struggling more with daily tasks (getting dressed, bathing, transfers)

Our caregivers can often support rehab goals by helping with home exercises (as instructed by therapists), ensuring safety, and providing transportation to therapy appointments. We can also connect you with local rehab providers if you’re not sure where to begin.

Primary Care Providers (PCPs)

What they are:
Primary care providers are your main medical providers—family doctors, internists, geriatricians, or nurse practitioners who manage overall health, medications, and chronic conditions.

Why a strong PCP relationship matters:

  • They help coordinate care between specialists

  • They review medications and watch for side effects

  • They monitor chronic issues like diabetes, heart disease, COPD, and more

  • They’re often the ones who order home health, rehab, or hospice

When we might suggest seeing a PCP:

  • There are new or worsening symptoms that haven’t been evaluated

  • Mood, memory, or behavior changes are happening

  • There’s confusion about medications or diagnoses

  • It’s been a while since a regular check-up

We can’t give medical advice, but we can encourage you to reach out to your PCP and help you think through what to share and which questions to ask. Our caregivers can also provide observations (with your permission) that might help your provider see the full picture.

FAQ: Referrals & Non-Medical Home Care

Are you a medical or home health agency?

No. Assisting Hands Home Care of Chattanooga is a non-medical home care agency.
We help with personal care and daily living tasks—things like bathing, dressing, meal prep, light housekeeping, transportation, companionship, and caregiver respite. We do not provide nursing, therapy, or medical treatments.

Can you recommend specific providers?

Yes, we can share names of local providers that we see families use and trust, such as home health agencies, hospice agencies, rehab programs, and specialists.

We do not receive payment or incentives for referrals. We always encourage families to choose the provider that feels right for them, and we’re happy to give you several options to explore.

Do you coordinate with my doctor or other providers?

With your permission, we can:

  • Share general observations about changes we notice at home

  • Communicate with your chosen home health, hospice, or rehab provider

  • Help you organize questions to ask at appointments

We do not make medical decisions or changes to your treatment plan—that’s always between you and your medical providers.

Do you work with hospice or home health at the same time?

Yes. Many of our clients receive home health or hospice services while also using our non-medical caregivers.

  • Home health or hospice: Provides the medical side (nurses, therapists, equipment, medications for comfort).

  • Assisting Hands: Provides the day-to-day support—help with bathing, meals, toileting, transfers, supervision, companionship, and support for family caregivers.

Together, this can create a strong safety net at home.

Can you help if my loved one needs more care than you can safely provide?

Yes—part of our responsibility is to be honest when someone needs more medical supervision than we can offer.

If we see signs that home may no longer be the safest or most appropriate setting—even with non-medical care—we will:

  • Share our concerns with you

  • Encourage you to speak with your PCP or specialist

  • Help you explore options like home health, hospice, rehab, or a SNF

We will never abandon a family; we’ll stay beside you as you explore next steps, even if that means transitioning away from our services.

How do I ask about a referral?

You don’t need to know the right terms. Just start with what you’re seeing:

  • “Mom seems weaker and is falling more.”

  • “Dad’s memory is getting worse and I’m not sure what to do.”

  • “We keep ending up in the ER.”

  • “I feel overwhelmed and need more support.”

From there, we’ll help you think through whether it might make sense to talk with:

  • Your primary care provider

  • A home health or rehab team

  • A hospice provider

  • A potential skilled nursing option

Medical Equipment & Supplies

Sometimes staying safe and independent at home isn’t just about hands-on help—it’s also about having the right equipment in place.

While Assisting Hands Home Care of Chattanooga does not sell or deliver medical equipment ourselves, we regularly help families think through what might make home safer and easier, such as:

  • Walkers, rollators, and wheelchairs

  • Bed rails and hospital beds

  • Shower chairs and tub benches

  • Grab bars and raised toilet seats

  • Lift chairs and transfer aids

  • Incontinence supplies and other home safety items

We’re happy to talk through what you’re noticing at home and suggest what types of equipment you may want to ask your doctor or therapist about.

As an added benefit, our clients receive a discount on certain medical equipment and supplies through our trusted partners. If you’re working with us, let us know what you’re looking for and we can point you in the right direction and help you access your client discount.

We don’t profit from the sale of equipment; our goal is simply to help you get what you need at a better price and with less stress.

Need Help Finding the Right Type of Care?

If you’re not sure what kind of help you need, you’re not alone—that’s exactly why we built this referral support.

📞 Call us today to talk through your situation and learn how our non-medical home care and our trusted community partners can support you and your loved one.

We’re here to listen, guide, and connect you with the right level of care—whether that’s with us, or with another provider who better fits your needs.