Find the right program for your care needs
Alternatives to nursing home care exist for almost every situation — some qualify for a Medicaid waiver, some are veterans, some pay privately, and some fall under a county-specific program. DON Services works across all of these pathways, so instead of trying to figure out the system on your own, you tell us your situation and we help you find the program that fits.
Alternatives to Nursing Home Care We Coordinate
Are you 21 or older with a physical disability, eligible for Medicaid or Medicare, and looking for an alternative to nursing home care? The Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver could be your path to greater independence — and DON Services is here to walk you through enrollment step by step.
CHC provides essential long-term services and supports at no out-of-pocket cost. Our caregivers deliver personalized in-home care built around your daily routine, not a generic care plan.
- Personalized care — help with bathing, dressing, mobility, and the other daily living activities that keep you safe and comfortable at home
- Focus on independence — care built to keep you living life on your own terms, in your own space
Who else may qualify: CHC also covers Act 150 participants not dually eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities receiving ODP services, and residents of state-operated nursing facilities, including state veterans’ homes. Adults 55+ may instead opt into the LIFE program if they meet skilled-nursing-level care needs.
Learn more directly from the state: PA DHS — Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver.
Not everyone who needs in-home care qualifies financially for a waiver program. If that’s your situation, DON’s Private Pay option gives you the same personalized, professional care as our waiver-based services — with no application, no waiting period, and care that can start right away.
- Personalized care plans — support built around your specific situation, not a one-size-fits-all package
- Expert, Vetted Caregivers — Experienced supporting individuals through life’s transitions — with the patience and consistency that comes from years of hands-on care.
- Respect, dignity, and comfort — care delivered with a focus on your independence and quality of life
One more thing worth knowing: paying privately now doesn’t hurt your future eligibility. In fact, spending down through Private Pay may help you later qualify for a Medicaid Waiver, VA benefits, or another program.
Full Private Pay details: DON Services — Private Pay Home Care.
Are you a veteran who needs support with daily living activities? DON Services provides veteran-focused in-home care — help with bathing, dressing, mobility, and the daily tasks that let you keep living independently, in the comfort of your own home.
- Veteran-focused care — delivered with the respect you’ve earned
- Daily living assistance — bathing, dressing, mobility, and more
- Respectful support — care with dignity at every step
Most veterans access in-home support through one of two VA pathways. Homemaker and Home Health Aide is a clinical benefit where the VA pays an approved home care agency directly. Aid and Attendance is a monthly cash pension paid to eligible wartime veterans or surviving spouses, which can be used to hire a caregiver of their choosing — including, in many cases, a family member. Many veterans qualify for both.
Learn more directly from the VA: Homemaker and Home Health Aide Care and Aid and Attendance and Housebound Benefits.
Are you an adult with an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder — or a family member seeking support on their behalf? LINKS provides personalized in-home and community-based services for adults with intellectual disabilities, available in Lawrence, Beaver, Butler, and Mercer counties, administered through our New Castle office.
Eligibility: an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, an intellectual disability diagnosis, and/or an IQ score of 70 or below.
- Home and Community Habilitation Services — developing and maintaining essential life skills, with continuous support and progress monitoring
- Companion Services — companionship and assistance that enhances health and safety at home
- Home-Maker Chore Services — help maintaining a clean, safe living environment
Already have services through the P/FDS, Community Living, or Consolidated Waivers? Contact your Supports Coordinator and ask about using DON Services as your provider.
Full LINKS details: DON Services — LINKS to Everyday Life.
For the official diagnosis and eligibility criteria: PA DHS — Office of Developmental Programs (ODP).
If you’re an older adult who wants to stay in your own home, OPTIONS is here to help — available in Lawrence, Butler, and Westmoreland counties. A care manager conducts a full assessment and builds a personalized plan around your needs.
- Comprehensive assessments — a care manager evaluates functional need, from basic personal care up to nursing-facility-level needs
- Personalized services — personal care, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping, and nutrition screening
- Support for independence — services aimed at keeping you safe and living at home
Eligibility: Pennsylvania residents age 60 and older. There’s no income cutoff to participate, but depending on income, you may share in the cost on a sliding scale.
To apply or check eligibility directly: PA.gov — Apply for the OPTIONS Program.
If you have a physical disability and need help living independently but don’t qualify for Medicaid waiver services, Act 150 is a state-funded safety net — personal assistance, a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS), and service coordination.
- Personal assistance services — help with bathing, dressing, mobility, and other daily tasks
- Emergency response systems — a PERS device available whenever you need it
- State-funded support — available to those who don’t financially qualify for a Medicaid waiver, with a minimal co-pay based on income
Eligibility: PA residents ages 18–59 with a physical impairment expected to last 12+ months (or result in death), who can direct their own care — hiring, firing, and supervising their own attendant — and manage their own financial and legal affairs.
Full program guidelines: PA DHS — Act 150 Attendant Care Waiver.