Visiting Angels is a home care franchise that sends caregivers to help older adults and people with disabilities with daily tasks
Visiting Angels is a national home care company with franchises in most states. Caregivers work in your home to help with activities like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping, and transportation to appointments. The service is private pay — you arrange and pay for care directly, rather than through Medicare or Medicaid, though some long-term care insurance policies may cover part of the cost.
Each Visiting Angels location is independently owned and operated by a franchisee, so the specific services, pricing, and availability vary by area. You contact your local franchise office to discuss your needs, get a cost estimate, and arrange an in-home assessment. A care coordinator then matches you with a caregiver and sets up a schedule.
Key Takeaways
- Visiting Angels sends caregivers to your home for help with personal care, household tasks, and daily living activities, and you pay the franchise directly out of pocket.
- Each franchise operates independently, so services, pricing, and caregiver availability differ by location — you need to contact your local office for specific details.
- Caregivers are screened and trained by the franchise, though the depth of training and caregiver experience varies across locations.
- You can arrange care on a one-time basis, a few hours per week, or full-time live-in arrangements depending on your needs and the franchise's capacity.
How to find and contact your local Visiting Angels franchise
Visiting Angels operates through a franchise model, which means there is no single national phone number or online booking system. Instead, you search for the franchise office that serves your city or county. The company's main website has a location finder tool where you enter your zip code and it returns the contact information for nearby franchises.
Once you identify your local office, call or visit their website directly. The staff will ask about the type of care you need, how many hours per week, and whether you need ongoing or occasional support. They will also discuss pricing, which is typically charged by the hour and varies by location and the level of care required.
What caregivers can help with
Visiting Angels caregivers information with activities of daily living — the personal and household tasks that become difficult as people age or manage illness. This includes bathing and grooming, dressing, toileting, meal preparation, feeding, medication reminders, light housekeeping, laundry, and grocery shopping. Many caregivers also provide companionship and can accompany you to medical appointments or social outings.
Caregivers do not provide skilled nursing care — they cannot administer injections, manage complex wound care, or perform medical procedures that require a licensed nurse. If you need skilled nursing, your doctor can refer you to a home health agency that employs registered nurses or licensed practical nurses. Some people use both services: a visiting nurse for medical tasks and Visiting Angels for daily living support.
Caregiver screening and training
Visiting Angels franchises conduct background checks and reference checks on all caregivers before hiring. Most locations require caregivers to pass a criminal background check and a check of the state abuse and neglect registry. The company also provides training on topics like personal care information, dementia care, and fall prevention.
The depth and rigor of training can vary between franchises because each is independently operated. When you contact your local office, ask what training caregivers receive, how long they have been with the company, and whether you can meet a potential caregiver before committing to a schedule. You have the right to request a different caregiver if the match does not work out.
Pricing and payment options
Visiting Angels charges by the hour, and rates vary significantly by location and the type of care needed. Hourly rates typically range from the mid-teens to the mid-30s per hour, depending on your area and whether you need specialized care like dementia support. Your local franchise will provide a detailed cost estimate after the initial assessment.
Payment is usually made directly to the franchise — by check, credit card, or bank transfer, depending on what the local office accepts. Some long-term care insurance policies cover home care services, so check your policy or contact your insurance company to see whether Visiting Angels is a covered provider in your area. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover Visiting Angels services directly, though some state Medicaid programs have home and community-based services waivers that may cover certain types of in-home care through other agencies.
Scheduling and flexibility
You can arrange care in several ways: a few hours per week, daily visits, overnight care, or live-in arrangements. The franchise will work with you to build a schedule that fits your needs and their caregiver availability. If you need care on short notice, availability depends on whether the local office has caregivers with open slots.
Most franchises ask for advance notice if you need to cancel or reschedule, typically 24 hours. If you need to pause care temporarily — for example, during a hospital stay — discuss this with your care coordinator so they can hold your caregiver's availability or adjust the schedule when you return home.
Alternatives to Visiting Angels
If Visiting Angels is not available in your area or does not meet your needs, other options exist. Home health agencies that are Medicare-certified provide skilled nursing and therapy services covered by Medicare. Home care agencies similar to Visiting Angels offer personal care and companionship on a private-pay basis. Some areas have Area Agencies on Aging that can refer you to local providers and may know about state or local funding for in-home care.
If you need care covered by insurance or government programs, ask your doctor for a referral to a home health agency, or contact your state's Medicaid office to learn about home and community-based services in your area. If you are a veteran, the VA may cover in-home care through its Aid and Attendance benefit or other programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Visiting Angels accept Medicare or Medicaid?
Visiting Angels is private pay, so Medicare does not cover it. Some state Medicaid programs have waivers that cover in-home personal care through other agencies, but Visiting Angels itself does not bill Medicaid. Ask your local franchise whether they work with any insurance or state programs, and check your long-term care insurance policy to see if home care is covered.
What if I need help with medical tasks like wound care or injections?
Visiting Angels caregivers are not licensed nurses and cannot perform skilled medical care. If you need wound care, injections, or other nursing tasks, ask your doctor to refer you to a home health agency with registered nurses. You can use both services — a home health nurse for medical care and Visiting Angels for daily living help.
Can I request a specific caregiver?
Yes. When you start service, you will work with a care coordinator to find a good match. If a caregiver is not the right fit, you can request someone else. Consistency is important for building trust and understanding your preferences, so most franchises try to assign the same caregiver when possible.
What happens if my caregiver calls in sick?
The franchise will try to send a replacement caregiver or reschedule your visit. Availability depends on whether other caregivers have open slots that day. Discuss backup plans with your care coordinator when you set up service, especially if you need care for critical tasks like medication reminders or bathing.
How do I know if Visiting Angels is available in my area?
Use the location finder on the Visiting Angels website by entering your zip code. If no franchise appears, the service may not be available in your area yet. In that case, contact your local Area Agency on Aging or ask your doctor for referrals to other home care providers.