What is the Difference Between Home Health and Home Care?
Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging for seniors and their families. Similar terms are often used interchangeably, such as home health and home care. Yet, there are significant differences between the two types of care.
As a provider of home care, Visiting Angels Oshkosh is here to help seniors and their families better understand the types of senior care that can be provided in the home. We’ve created a brief overview to help you understand the difference between home health and home care.
What is home health?
Home health refers to the care provided in your home due to a medical reason. Skilled providers, such as a nurse, therapists, or certified nursing assistants, provide care relating to that medical need. Examples include wound care, injections, tube feeding, or monitoring a serious illness. Home health also provides rehabilitation care to seniors transitioning home from the hospital or a rehabilitation facility.
What is home care?
Home care refers to non-medical care provided in the home that allows the client to remain safe and independent. Services provided vary among home care agencies. Some only offer companionship, while others may assist with personal care.
Visiting Angels Oshkosh provides a wide range of home care services for seniors. We assist with light housekeeping, meal preparation, running errands, dignified bathing and dressing, and more. Most importantly, our caregivers provide companionship. While laundry is running, our friendly caregivers can engage seniors in a game or initiate a conversation over a cup of coffee.
Who pays for home health and home care?
Home health is often paid for by insurance, such as Medicare, Medicaid, or a private health insurance plan. Generally, home health is covered for a short amount of time. It isn’t a long-term care solution. Home health can end with little warning, especially if a senior isn’t making progress toward his or her goals.
Home care is typically paid out-of-pocket by the client. The cost of home care depends on the type of care required, as well as how frequently care is needed.
Visiting Angels Oshkosh knows finances can be a source of stress for families, particularly when it comes to senior care. We are pleased to offer affordable hourly rates for care. You can set your schedule and select the frequency of care that fits into your budget. You can elect to receive services periodically during the week, daily, or around the clock.
Would I ever use both home health and home care?
Visiting Angels Oshkosh strongly believes that home care is a great supplement to home health. Home health is most often utilized after a recent hospitalization. Approximately one of every five seniors is readmitted to the hospital within 30 days after being discharged. At Visiting Angels Oshkosh, we want seniors to avoid expensive, unwanted hospital readmissions. That's why we have developed a comprehensive transitional care plan called “Ready-Set-Go Home.” Our transitional care plan successfully helps seniors transition from hospital care to their Oshkosh homes with assistance from our professional caregivers.
In addition to preventing readmission to the hospital, our home care services are a great supplement to the medical care provided by home health. Our professional caregivers can encourage seniors to participate in their physical therapy home exercises on the days when home health physical therapists aren’t present. While you rest and recuperate, our caregivers can take care of light housekeeping tasks so you don’t overwork yourself. They can assist you in the kitchen, so you have healthy meals that support your recovery. They can escort you to follow-up appointments and remind you to take your medications as prescribed. Our caregivers give families peace of mind, knowing someone is present and monitoring you when family can’t be there. The best part of utilizing home care with home health is that home care can continue even after home health has ended, allowing seniors to thrive in their golden years.
Why should I choose Visiting Angels Oshkosh for my home care needs?
Visiting Angels Oshkosh has been providing elder care to the senior community since 1998. In that time, we have gained knowledge and worked to create a platform for senior care that addresses the comprehensive needs of our clients. From those with physical limitations to elders that suffer from memory-related illness, Visiting Angels Oshkosh is proud to offer superior elder care to aging persons in our community. To learn more, please contact us today by calling 920-312-7000.