A home care plan of service in Georgia is the written service plan a private home care provider’s supervisor prepares for each client. Under Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) Rule 111-8-65, it must be completed within seven working days after services first begin and must describe the client’s functional limitations, the services, how often and how long they will be delivered, goals and discharge plans. It is a separate document from the service agreement, which sets out the arrangement and charges.
This page covers the service plan, how it is reviewed, supervisory visits and client rights. It is general information and not medical, legal or financial advice; DCH is the official body responsible for private home care licensing and regulatory compliance. DCH proposed revisions to Rule 111-8-65 in 2026, and adoption is unconfirmed. Verify the current requirements through DCH’s rule information and the full text of Rule 111-8-65 in the Georgia Administrative Code.
What documents should you expect?
The service agreement and service plan serve different purposes. Read them together: the services described in the plan should make sense alongside the arrangement and charges explained in the agreement. Written rights explain the client’s choices and protections throughout care.
Under DCH Rule 111-8-65-.09, a new client’s written service agreement is due by the second visit, if that visit occurs on a different day, or within seven calendar days after services begin, whichever is earlier. If it cannot be completed in time, the provider must document the good cause in the client’s file. The supervisor must complete the service plan within seven working days of initial service. Calendar days and working days are different terms; ask the provider to explain the expected completion dates.
| Document | What it should contain | How often it is checked |
|---|---|---|
| Written service agreement | The care arrangement, with a clear explanation of services and charges for the client to review. | Review when completed and whenever the provider proposes changing the arrangement or charges. |
| Service plan | Functional limitations, service types, frequency and duration, goals, discharge plans and applicable clinical details. | DCH Rule 111-8-65 requires nursing plans to be reviewed at least every 62 days; other plans are updated at each supervisory visit. |
| Written notice of rights | Participation in planning, accepting or refusing services, knowing charges, confidentiality and contacting the licensing authority. | Provided when the agreement is completed under DCH Rule 111-8-65; keep it available whenever a concern arises. |
| Family communication log | Observations, questions, reported changes and follow-up arrangements. | A practical family tool to review as care changes; it does not replace the provider’s records or service plan. |
The suggested family reviews in this table are practical habits, separate from DCH’s required deadlines. The agreement has its own checklist: before agreeing to care, readers can review questions to ask before signing a home care agreement.
Who writes the service plan, and what must it include?
Under DCH Rule 111-8-65-.11, the provider’s service supervisor develops the plan with the client and, where there is one, the responsible party. For nursing services, the plan is also developed with the client’s personal physician if the client has one. The rule requires these items in every plan:
- Functional limitations
- Types of service
- Expected times and frequency of delivery in the residence
- Expected duration of services
- Goals and objectives
- Discharge plans
Where they apply, the plan also records pertinent diagnoses, medications and treatments, equipment needs, and diet and nutritional needs. The rule says the plan must be revised whenever these items change, which gives families a clear basis for asking for an update.
The guide to home care, home health and hospice in Georgia explains how the services compare.
How to read the service plan
Start with what the person needs help doing
A useful plan connects the person’s limitations with specific assistance. “Help with bathing” may leave uncertainty about what happens during a visit. Ask the supervisor to explain the intended help, how the person’s preferences are respected and what the caregiver should report if the task becomes difficult.
Read the details with the client whenever possible, allowing time for questions. For a person living with memory loss, the plan may need more detail on routines, safety and how the caregiver responds to distress; the guide to dementia care at home in Georgia lists topics to raise.
- Tasks: Can the client and caregiver understand what assistance is expected?
- Timing: Does the planned frequency and duration fit the person’s daily routines?
- Goals: Is it clear what the services are intended to support?
- Relevant details: Are applicable medication, equipment, treatment and dietary details accurately recorded?
- Discharge: Does the plan explain how services are expected to end?
Check that responsibilities are clear
Ask which tasks belong to the caregiver, which need nursing involvement and which remain with family members or other professionals. A family’s request does not establish that a worker has the training or authority to perform a task. Readers can use the guide to caregiver background checks and training to prepare related questions.
If wording is unclear, ask for an explanation that can be reflected in the written plan. A verbal understanding may be difficult to communicate when a replacement caregiver arrives.
How often are service plans and supervisory visits required?
Under DCH Rule 111-8-65-.10 and -.11, nursing service plans must be reviewed and updated at least every 62 days, and other plans at each supervisory visit. Supervisory home visits are required at least every 92 days from the start of service for personal care tasks, and at least every 122 days for companion or sitter tasks, or when a complaint raises a serious question about services. Providers may visit more often if the level of care requires it. Verify current requirements with DCH because of the proposed revisions.
These intervals do not mean a family should hold a concern until the next routine review. A change in mobility, eating, memory or ability to manage daily activities may make the existing plan less useful. Describe the change to the supervisor and ask whether the services or written instructions need reassessment.
How to ask for changes to the plan
Begin with a concrete observation. Explain what happened, how it affected the client and what seems unclear in the current plan. For example, a caregiver may arrive after the client needs help dressing, or the plan may describe assistance the client now finds uncomfortable.
- Identify the task, timing or instruction that needs attention.
- Include the client’s preference and any concerns the client wants discussed.
- Ask who will assess the request and explain the response.
- Ask for any agreed change to appear in the appropriate written document.
- Keep the updated copy accessible to the client and relevant family members.
When a proposed change affects cost, ask for a clear written explanation before deciding; the guide to home care costs in Georgia gives context on pricing. If the provider cannot offer the requested assistance, ask how that affects the existing arrangement and discharge planning.
Client rights and how to complain
Under DCH Rule 111-8-65-.12, the provider gives the client or responsible party a written notice of rights and responsibilities when the service agreement is completed, and the agreement includes an acknowledgment that it was received. The notice covers:
- Taking part in the plan of service and being told of changes
- Accepting or refusing services
- Charges
- The supervisor’s name and contact information
- Complaint procedures, including protection from discrimination or retaliation
- Confidentiality of records and respectful treatment of property and the residence
- The licensing authority’s contact information and the right to obtain the most recent inspection report
The provider must keep written complaint policies, give the client its telephone number for complaints, and accept complaints orally or in writing and resolve them in a timely manner. It must also keep complaint files that document the actions taken.
A shared family log can record observations, questions raised with the supervisor and responses received. Keep entries factual and respect the client’s privacy and choices about sharing information. Distinguish an observation from a concern that still needs assessment, and identify who is following up.
If concerns remain unresolved, DCH’s Private Home Care Program provides complaint information and a facility lookup. This guide explains how to check a Georgia home care license. Clients who receive services through a Medicaid waiver program should also read the guide to Georgia Medicaid waivers for home care, because those programs have their own requirements in addition to the provider’s paperwork.
Sources for this page were last checked in November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the service agreement the same as the service plan?
No. The agreement explains the care arrangement, while the service plan describes the client’s needs and planned assistance.
Who prepares a home care service plan in Georgia?
The provider’s service supervisor prepares it, working with the client and any responsible party. For nursing services, the client’s personal physician is also involved if the client has one, according to DCH Rule 111-8-65-.11.
How soon must the service plan be ready?
The rule gives the supervisor seven working days after services first begin in the residence. That is counted in working days, so ask the provider for the actual date.
Can the client refuse a service?
DCH Rule 111-8-65 includes the right to accept or refuse services. Discuss the refusal with the supervisor so the plan can reflect the client’s choices and any resulting concerns.
Should family members wait for a review to report changes?
Report changes when they arise. The rule requires the plan to be revised when the items it must cover change, so ask the supervisor whether an assessment or plan update is needed.
Can a client see the provider’s latest inspection report?
The written notice of rights under Rule 111-8-65-.12 includes the right to obtain the most recent inspection report. Ask the provider for it, and use DCH’s licensing information to check the provider’s status.
Does a family communication log replace the service plan?
No. A family log helps organize observations and follow-up, while the provider’s service plan remains the written description of planned care.