The 2025 Home‑Care Playbook for Georgia Families

1) Make home safer this week (room‑by‑room)

Entry & halls

• Clear cords/clutter; keep pathways at least shoulder‑width.

• Brighten bulbs; add nightlights on the bed‑to‑bath path.

• Basics to follow: CDC Check for Safety home checklist (PDF) – https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/steadi-brochure-checkforsafety-508.pdf

Stairs

• Handrails on both sides, high‑contrast step edges, switch at top and bottom.

• Quick reference: NIA Preventing Falls at Home, Room by Room – https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/preventing-falls-home-room-room

Bathroom

• Grab bars (toilet & shower), non‑slip mat/decals, shower chair + handheld showerhead.

• Printables: NIA Home Safety Checklist (PDF) – https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/home-safety-checklist_0.pdf

Bedroom

• Bed height so knees are ~90° when seated; lamp within arm’s reach.

• Keep a charged phone or medical alert button by the bed.

Living areas

• Secure/remove throw rugs; coil cords along walls; keep often‑used items within easy reach.

• More ideas: NCOA Home modifications to prevent falls – https://www.ncoa.org/article/home-modifications-to-prevent-falls

2) Smart—but simple—tech that earns its keep

Medical alert systems (with optional automatic fall detection):

• AARP buyer’s guide – https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2024/medical-alert-systems-guide.html

• NCOA lab‑tested picks – https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/medical-alert-systems/best-medical-alert-systems/

What the research is exploring:

• Review on wearables/AI fall detection (open access) – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11064922/

Medication safety basics:

• FDA “Taking Medicines Safely” – https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/taking-medicine-safely

• CDC Medication Safety – https://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/index.html

Telehealth (know what’s covered):

• HHS Telehealth policy updates – https://telehealth.hhs.gov/telehealth-policy/telehealth-policy-changes-after-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency

• CMS Medicare telehealth overview – https://www.cms.gov/medicare/telehealth

3) Heat‑season readiness for Georgia

Check your daily risk & plan actions:

• CDC Heat & Health / HeatRisk – https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/heatTracker/

Prepare a simple Ready Kit:

• Ready.gov Older Adults – https://www.ready.gov/older-adults

• Ready.gov Build a Kit – https://www.ready.gov/kit

Georgia‑specific help:

• Georgia Emergency Management (GEMA) Ready Kit checklist – https://gema.georgia.gov/ready-kit-checklist

4) The first 48 hours after a hospital discharge

Before leaving the hospital

• Get a med list showing what’s new, what changed, what to stop.

• Ask for red‑flag symptoms and who to call vs. when to go to the ER.

• Book the follow‑up appointment before discharge.

• Line up home support: bathing, vitals, meals, meds setup. AFHCS Services – https://afhcs.com/services

At home (Day 0–2)

• Use a weekly pillbox + one reliable reminder (phone, clock, or smart speaker).

• Do a quick safety sweep with CDC’s checklist (PDF) – https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/steadi-brochure-checkforsafety-508.pdf

• Keep a notes page for weight, temperature, or oxygen if prescribed.

• If something feels off, call the discharging clinic early.

5) Programs that can help pay for care (Georgia)

• HCBS (Home‑ and Community‑Based Services) – adults/seniors: State overview & waivers (CCSP/SOURCE, ICWP) – https://dch.georgia.gov/programs/hcbs/community-based-services

• GAPP (Georgia Pediatric Program) – supports medically fragile children at home – https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/all-programs/georgia-pediatric-program-gapp

• Policy background: CMS Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services (HCBS Access Rule) – https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/ensuring-access-medicaid-services

• Local help: Find your Area Agency on Aging – https://aging.georgia.gov/caregiving

6) How AFHCS can help—today

• Build the right care plan: Skilled Nursing, Personal Care, Companion Care, and CNA services – https://afhcs.com/services

• Talk it through with us: https://afhcs.com/contact • Phone 470‑982‑CARE (2273) • Email corporate@afhcs.com

• Resource hub: Practical links for families – https://afhcs.com/resources

7) Save‑and‑share toolkit (printable links)

• CDC Home Fall Prevention Checklist (PDF) – https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/steadi-brochure-checkforsafety-508.pdf

• NIA Home Safety Checklist (PDF) – https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/home-safety-checklist_0.pdf

• HHS Telehealth policy updates – https://telehealth.hhs.gov/telehealth-policy/telehealth-policy-changes-after-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency

• CMS Medicare telehealth – https://www.cms.gov/medicare/telehealth

• AHRQ Hospital‑at‑Home primer – https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/hospital-home

• Ready.gov Older Adults – https://www.ready.gov/older-adults

Works cited & helpful reading (all used above)

• CDC Falls – https://www.cdc.gov/falls/

• NIA Falls at Home – https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/preventing-falls-home-room-room

• NIA Home Safety Checklist (PDF) – https://www.nia.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-03/home-safety-checklist_0.pdf

• CDC Home Fall Checklist (PDF) – https://www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/steadi-brochure-checkforsafety-508.pdf

• NCOA Home Modifications – https://www.ncoa.org/article/home-modifications-to-prevent-falls

• AHRQ Hospital‑at‑Home – https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/hospital-home

• HHS Telehealth – https://telehealth.hhs.gov/telehealth-policy/telehealth-policy-changes-after-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency

• CMS Medicare Telehealth – https://www.cms.gov/medicare/telehealth

• Georgia DCH HCBS – https://dch.georgia.gov/programs/hcbs/community-based-services

• Georgia Medicaid GAPP – https://medicaid.georgia.gov/programs/all-programs/georgia-pediatric-program-gapp

• Aging Georgia (caregiving) – https://aging.georgia.gov/caregiving

• Ready.gov Older Adults – https://www.ready.gov/older-adults

• Ready.gov Build a Kit – https://www.ready.gov/kit

• AARP Medical Alert Systems – https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/home-care/info-2024/medical-alert-systems-guide.html

• NCOA Best Medical Alert Systems – https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/medical-alert-systems/best-medical-alert-systems/

• FDA Medication Safety – https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/taking-medicine-safely

• CDC Medication Safety – https://www.cdc.gov/medicationsafety/index.html