The Difference Between Home Care and Home Health

According to a survey conducted by AARP, the majority of older adults prefer to age in place. Should they need help as they age, most older adults prefer to receive help at home instead of moving to a care facility. Fortunately, there are options available for older adults who prefer to remain in the comfort of their own homes.

When it comes time to hire elder care at home, there’s often a lot of confusion. It doesn’t help when the terms “home care” and “home health” are used interchangeably. The two terms are similar, so it’s easy to confuse them. Yet, they are two distinct entities and are both critical to an older adult’s quality of life. Here is a basic overview of the two different types of care services to better understand the care options available to older adults.

Home Care

Home care provides non-medical care for older adults who need some assistance with personal care. The goal of home care is to help older adults stay safe and independent in the comfort of their own homes. With home care, a professional caregiver comes to the home to assist with basic care tasks, such as grooming, bathing, dressing, meal preparation, light housekeeping, and laundry. Home care caregivers can escort their clients to appointments, help them with errands, or take them out for a special treat. In addition to assisting with personal care, home care provides companionship. During their visit, home care caregivers provide their clients with meaningful engagement. They can play games, check out local events, such as the Wisconsin State Fair, or simply enjoy conversation over a cup of coffee.

The client pays for home care. It does not require a hospital stay or referral from a physician. At any point, an older adult who needs help at home can contact and hire a home care company for their personal care needs. The cost of home care varies according to the needs and frequency of visits. Although some long-term care insurance policies provide some coverage, most medical insurance plans do not cover home care. The cost of home care may be intimidating at first glance. However, most older adults are pleasantly surprised to find that the cost of home care is similar, or even less, than the cost of moving to an assisted living community. Home care continues until the client chooses to end the partnership. As care needs change over time, clients can choose to receive more help and support from their professional caregivers.

Home Health

Home health provides professional medical care for older adults who require it. To receive home health, an older adult must have a skilled nursing care need or must be eligible to receive therapy services. Examples include wound care, injections, tube feedings, monitoring severe illnesses, or receiving physical or occupational therapy after a hospital stay or short-term rehabilitation stay. Skilled nurses, certified nursing assistants, and/or skilled therapists come to the home to provide specific skilled services. They do not assist with personal care beyond teaching patients how to use adaptive equipment, nor do they provide companionship.

Home care is often a great supplement to home health, should an older adult require home health services. Home health oversees medical needs, while home care assists with non-medical care needs. When home health services end, home care can continue seamlessly.

If you are an older adult who needs home care services, Visiting Angels Beaver Dam is here for you. We pride ourselves on our dedication to personalized care and family communication. Our caregivers genuinely go above and beyond to make each client feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed. They learn each client’s personal preferences and actively engage their clients in meaningful conversation or purposeful activities.

If you are currently receiving home health care, or have a planned surgery in the future, consider the additional support of home care provided by us. We can assist you as you get back on your feet. Getting started with home care provided by Visiting Angels is as simple as contacting us by calling 920-821-1111.