Home care vs. home health care: what's the difference?

When a parent starts needing help, families often hear two phrases that sound almost the same: home care and home health care. They're different kinds of help, and knowing the difference saves time and frustration.

Home health care is medical

Home health care is skilled care ordered by a doctor. A nurse, physical therapist or other licensed professional visits to do things like wound care, injections, therapy after surgery or monitoring a health condition. Visits are usually short and happen for a set period, often while someone recovers.

Home care is help with daily life

Home care, sometimes called non-medical home care, is help with the everyday things that have become hard. A caregiver can help with:

• bathing, dressing, grooming and using the bathroom

• preparing meals and keeping the kitchen tidy

• laundry and light housekeeping

• company, conversation and activities

• keeping an eye on safety at home

Home care visits are often longer and more regular, because the goal is steady support, not a short course of treatment.

Who pays for each

Medicare can cover home health care when a doctor orders it and your parent meets Medicare's rules. Medicare generally doesn't pay for ongoing non-medical home care. Families usually pay for home care privately, and some long-term care insurance policies help. It's worth calling your parent's insurance to ask what their policy covers.

Many families use both

It's common to have both at once. For example, after a hospital stay a nurse may visit twice a week for wound care, while a home care caregiver helps every day with showers, meals and getting around safely.

How to tell what your parent needs

Ask yourself what's actually hard for them right now. If the answer is a medical task, start with their doctor. If the answer is getting through the day safely and comfortably, that's what home care is for.

At PureHeart, our nurse visits every new client to understand their needs before care starts. If your loved one needs more than a non-medical agency can safely provide, we'll tell you and help point you in the right direction.

Have a question about your situation? Call us at (781) 243-4191.