Health Care Certifications & Services Best Visiting Nurse Services AccentCare is the best visiting nurse service, with performance ratings above industry standards By Scott Frothingham Scott Frothingham Scott is a writer with over 30 years experience, specializing in publishing consumer healthcare topics such as Medicare coverage for heart disease, first aid for burns, liver transplant, and schizophrenia. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 19, 2023 Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH LinkedIn Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH, is a board-certified specialist in family medicine and is the former medical director of a community health center. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked by Dale Brauner Fact checked by Dale Brauner LinkedIn Dale is an experienced fact-checker and researcher with a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism Learn about our editorial process Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. One day you or a loved one might need a visiting nurse for medical care in your home. In the United States, it’s a relatively common experience. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 4.5 million Americans are treated in their homes every year by more than 12,000 home healthcare agencies. Many people prefer the ease of having medical care in their own home, rather than having to travel to a hospital or doctor's office. When the time comes, you’ll need to do some research to find a visiting nurse service that fits your personal needs. With that in mind, we reviewed over 40 home healthcare companies to find the best visiting nurse services available. Best Visiting Nurse Services of 2023 Best Overall: AccentCare Best for Post-Operative Assistance: Elara Caring Best Technology: Enhabit Home Health & Hospice Best for Specialized Care: Interim HealthCare Best for Hospice (End-of-Life Care): ProMedica Hospice Best Visiting Nurse Services View All Best Visiting Nurse Services Our Top Picks AccentCare Elara Caring Enhabit Home Health & Hospice Interim HealthCare ProMedica Hospice See More (2) Final Verdict How to Choose FAQs Methodology Best Overall : AccentCare AccentCare Learn More Key Specs Services offered: Personal care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, medical assistance, hospice and palliative care, care management, health alert systemsNumber of locations: 260 locations across 31 states Why We Chose It We selected AccentCare as the best overall provider of skilled home health care based on its accessibility (there are over 260 locations) and performance ratings that are above industry standards. Pros & Cons Pros Programs for chronic conditions Specialized programs, including behavioral health and stroke Tele-monitoring program for early intervention Cons Some locations have different names, which can be confusing Website’s location search page is hard to find Overview All of AccentCare's agencies are accredited by Community Health Accreditation Partners (CHAP) and have earned an overall 4.6-star quality rating and recognition from the We Honor Veterans program. AccentCare treats over 140,000 patients a year. Along with skilled home health care and private duty nursing, it offers hospice care, personal care services, and care management. AccentCare also uses technology to supplement visiting nurse home care visits with tele-monitoring that can deliver biometric data (blood pressure, pulse, blood glucose, etc.) in close to real-time to keep the medical support team informed and ready to take action if necessary. AccentCare is the fifth largest provider of skilled home health in the U.S. Best for Post-Operative Assistance : Elara Caring Elara Caring Learn More Key Specs Services offered: Home health care, hospice care, rehabilitation, recovery care, personal care, behavioral careNumber of locations: 200+ locations across 16 states Why We Chose It Elara Caring focuses on recovery and rehabilitation, excelling in nursing, physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech therapy. Pros & Cons Pros Also offers hospice care and behavioral health services Delivers proactive customized care (CAREtinuum) Cons Only available in 16 states Overview Elara Caring's CAREtinuum program, a system that uses predictive analytics to identify patients at risk, sets it apart from other companies for post-operative assistance. For example, Elara’s CAREtinuum Fall Risk Program patients are 72% less likely to return to the hospital due to falling. Elara Caring offers a wide range of in-home clinical services, treating more than 65,000 patients a day. Along with skilled home health, Elara Caring offers hospice care, personal care, and behavioral care. Its behavioral care supports a wide range of conditions, including depressive/anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar, and other disorders. Even though Elara only has locations in about one-third of the states in the U.S., it is the ninth largest provider of skilled home health in the country. Best Technology : Enhabit Home Health & Hospice Learn More Key Specs Services offered: Home health care, hospice care, post-operative care, transition program from hospital to home, long-term careNumber of locations: 355 locations across 34 states Why We Chose It We chose Enhabit Home Health & Hospice for its easy-to-use technology that makes a customer’s online experience simple, with comprehensive information quickly available. Pros & Cons Pros Locations in 34 states Variety of programs to enhance skilled nursing, including skilled therapy, balance and fall prevention, and orthopedics Cons Not all locations offer hospice Website offers Spanish translation, but only portions of the site are available in Spanish Overview The online software at Enhabit streamlines each step, from referral processing to scheduling to management of physician orders, in order to optimize patient care and attention. This connection between patients, doctors, and in-home care providers makes processes easier and more transparent. In addition, Enhabit’s web portal provides one-stop access to manage diagnoses, patient history, medications, and plan of care. Enhabit is also able to deliver better care for patients through predictive analysis, to identify potential risks. Best for Specialized Care : Interim HealthCare Interim Healthcare Learn More Key Specs Services offered: Home health care, senior care, in-home nursing services, respite care, transitional care; at-home physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Number of locations: 300+ locations across 41 states Why We Chose It We chose Interim HealthCare for its focus on home care for adults or children with special needs due to an injury or illness. Pros & Cons Pros Promotes a more engaged existence at home for patients and their families Offers caregivers more than 300 continuing education units Available in nearly 50 states Cons Independently owned franchises mean inconsistencies in customer satisfaction Overview Interim HealthCare's services include care for adults and children who are developmentally delayed or need to use a feeding tube. Specialized offerings include home care for arthritis, multiple sclerosis, joint replacement, hypertension, paraplegia and quadriplegia, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Interim also offers many specialized interactive online training courses and live webinars for specific needs, such as dementia care. Interim HealthCare University provides extensive training resources available for free to employees, including over 300 lessons for both clinical and non-clinical staff and management in areas such as fall prevention, home care technology, and transitioning from a facility. Interim’s HomeLife Enrichment program looks beyond basic needs to address the mind, spirit, and family as well as the body. The focus is to add purpose, dignity, and self-worth to basic safety and independence. Interim HealthCare has a network of more than 300 independently owned franchises (employing nurses, aides, therapists, and other healthcare personnel) serving about 173,000 people every year. Best for Hospice (End-of-Life Care) : ProMedica Hospice Learn More Key Specs Services offered: Home hospice care, pain management, spiritual support, comforting treatments, bereavement servicesNumber of locations: In 26 states Why We Chose It ProMedica Hospice provides the comfort and quality of life that hospice is known for, with fast and effective responses to patient discomforts such as pain, shortness of breath, and anxiety. Pros & Cons Pros Advance directive not required for hospice care Fully accredited Provides employees with training, continuing education, and tuition assistance Cons Only available in 26 states across the U.S. Overview ProMedica Hospice has locations in 26 states, offering services such as pain and symptom management therapies. Heartland can provide hospice care in any “home”—including a private home, an assisted living facility, or a skilled nursing center. While some hospices require a do not resuscitate (DNR) order before providing care, ProMedica (formerly Heartland Hospice Care) doesn’t. In situations where Medicare will be paying for the care, a DNR is not required because the care is considered palliative (providing comfort, instead of a cure or treatment). ProMedica Hospice develops talent by offering its employees training and education opportunities at many of its locations. For example, its nursing assistant training programs include assistance with the cost of taking a state certification exam. ProMedica Hospice also offers bereavement services, advanced planning services, and the possibility to grant funds to help offset financial burdens created by terminal illness. Final Verdict While each visiting nurse service on this list has its strengths, AccentCare is our top pick due to its wide variety of specialized programs and high quality rating. The caretakers at AccentCare are skilled and experienced. Plus, home care visits are supplemented with an advanced tele-monitoring system. Guide to Choosing a Visiting Nurse Service When it comes to selecting the best visiting nurse services for you or a loved one, there are several factors you should look for to help inform your decision. Accreditation: Home healthcare agencies and companies must be licensed in order to operate in a state. As you research the best visiting nurse services, ensure that the agency you select is licensed in the state you live. Consult with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) or the Joint Commission, which offers accreditation to home health providers.Insurance: Check your available coverage and what potential out-of-pocket costs may be by asking any potential visiting nurse service if it accepts your insurance. Often, services take Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or Veterans Administration benefits.Services needed: Depending on your needs, you may require more specialized nursing care. For example, visiting nurse services can be tailored to the patient if they need after-surgery care, rehabilitation therapy, medication administration, or personal care and companionship.Visiting hours: Many visiting home nurses operate between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. However, depending on the needs of the patient, in-home hours can often be adjusted. Ask a home healthcare provider if they also arrange for evening or overnight visits, should you need them. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Duties of a Visiting Nurse? A visiting nurse is a skilled medical professional, usually a registered nurse, who oversees all aspects of the medical care you receive at home, as ordered by a physician. This might include evaluating your medical condition and health needs, monitoring your vital signs and assessing risk factors, and administering medication. A visiting nurse is also trained to care for specific conditions such as COPD, diabetes, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. They can change dressings for surgical incisions or wounds and provide hospice care.When your visiting nurse leaves, they make sure that you and your caregivers have the necessary information and supplies to support the plan of care. Is a Visiting Nurse the Same as a Home Health Aide? A visiting nurse is a skilled medical professional, while a home aide typically has limited formal medical training and provides services such as help with personal hygiene, meals, and transportation. A home health aide may stay in your home for several hours providing care, while a visiting nurse will stay for a shorter time to perform specific tasks. Does Medicare Cover Visiting Nurse Services? If you have Medicare, home health care, such as that provided by a visiting nurse, is covered 100% by Medicare when your doctor certifies that you meet the required guidelines. If you do not have Medicare, consult with your healthcare insurance to determine your policy parameters for coverage, including necessary copayments, if any.Hospice (including a visiting nurse, if one is on your team) is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, the Veteran’s Health Administration, and private insurance. Although most hospice care is provided at home, it is also available at hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and dedicated hospice facilities.Always double-check coverage with your insurance provider and ask the visiting nurse service if it accepts your insurance plan. Methodology For this ranking, we looked at more than 40 home health providers. The primary criteria were the number of locations and national footprint, so the ranking would be useful to a large number of people. In addition to reviewing companies' areas of expertise, we also looked at their website interface, navigation, and usability and how they are ranked in areas such as quality care and patient satisfaction by services such as the U.S. government’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Home Health Star and Home Health Compare. AE Pictures / Getty Images Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. Home health care. LexisNexis Risk Solutions. LexisNexis Risk Solutions ranks top home health and hospice providers. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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