Services
Skilled nursing care at home
Some care can only come from a nurse. We bring registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to the home, so the plan is written by someone who has seen how the person actually lives.
The short answer
Skilled nursing at home means licensed nurses doing work that requires a nurse: assessments, medication administration, wound care and monitoring. A health care provider orders it. Aster Care's registered nurses write the plan of care and come back to check it, and licensed practical nurses deliver ongoing nursing visits.
What a nurse does at home
- Nursing assessments and a written plan of care
- Medication management and administration
- Wound care and watching for signs of infection
- Monitoring chronic conditions and reporting changes to the doctor
- Teaching family members what to watch for and what to do
- Supervising aides so the daily care follows the plan
RN or LPN: what is the difference?
A registered nurse assesses, plans and supervises. A licensed practical nurse delivers nursing care under that direction. Both hold Florida licenses, which you can look up on the state's license search.
When to ask about nursing at home
- A new diagnosis, medication or wound that the family is not trained to handle.
- A recent hospital stay. See care after a hospital stay.
- Repeat emergency visits for the same problem.
- Medications that have become hard to manage safely.
How it gets paid
Medicare can pay for part-time or intermittent skilled nursing when a person is homebound and a provider orders it, through a Medicare-certified agency. Florida Medicaid covers intermittent and skilled nursing under Long-Term Care and the iBudget waiver, and home health visits at all ages. Private pay is also an option. Ask us which applies before care starts.
We serve families across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
Questions families ask
Do I need a doctor's order?
Yes, skilled nursing paid by Medicare or Medicaid needs a provider's order. Call us and we will explain what the doctor needs to send.
Can a nurse come every day?
It depends on the need and the payer. Medicaid home health visits have limits by age, and private duty nursing is a separate service. We will tell you what is realistic.