Home Care vs. Home Health Care

Is your loved one still in his or her home, yet they need support for daily activities or have a medical condition? Have they had a health setback or are beginning to show signs of dementia or other challenges?

The idea of moving them into a nursing home or assisted living facility may feel too premature or extreme. Yet, it’s not always possible for family members to care at home for the elderly or to have the senior move into their home. If your loved one wishes to stay in their own home as long as possible, it’s a good idea to research your options for care at home that can be delivered in the comfort of their familiar surroundings.

You’ve likely seen the terms ‘home care’ and ‘home health care,’ but are they the same thing? The difference between home care and home health care comes down to the type and complexity of service provided and the level of skill of the at-home caregiver.

Read on to learn more about the differences between home care and home health care, and how to choose the right in-home health care for your loved one.

What does a home care provider do?

Home care providers – also known as personal care assistants or personal caregivers – provide nonmedical assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). If your loved one doesn’t have a serious illness, yet you’ve noticed they are struggling to prepare meals, keep their house tidy or get dressed, a home care provider can be a big help.

The most common ADLs that a personal caregiver can assist with include:

Bathing or showering
Getting dressed
Being able to get in and out of bed or a chair
Walking
Using the toilet
Eating

Home caregivers can also provide transportation, light housekeeping and laundry, cooking, shopping, and companionship and socialization, all while keeping a watchful eye on the client’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

What does a home health care provider do?

In addition to providing assistance with ADLs, home health care providers take on more of a medical role, as they offer a higher level of skilled nursing care for seniors at home. In general, the goal of home health care is to treat an illness or injury.

A home health aide might:

Check and monitor patients’ vital signs
Administer medications
Perform injections or intravenous therapies
Provide wound care for surgical wounds, pressure sores or other injuries
Assist with using medical equipment
Provide physical therapy or rehabilitation

What is needed to engage home care or home health care?

A client who is interested in the assistance of an at- home caregiver can locate a home care agency in their area to schedule an assessment. Kadan Homecare is one of the few companies in the industry that offers a complimentary in-home visit by a registered nurse (RN). After the in-home visit, the client is matched with a caregiver who is well trained to provide the home care services needed.

For home health care, doctor’s orders are needed to start care. Once the doctor has officially referred the patient for home health services, a home health care agency will schedule an in-home appointment to review the specific health needs of the client. After care has begun, the home health care provider is responsible for keeping the doctor apprised of the patient’s progress, and they are committed to following the doctor’s orders for the number of visits needed.

Does insurance pay for home care and home health care?

Because home health care is a medically prescribed service, Medicare will usually cover at least part of the fees for services. There also may be out-of-pocket costs for the patient, depending on the services recommended by the doctor and the duration of home health care. Medicaid and veterans’ benefits may also cover some care.

Home care services may be covered by some insurance plans, such as long-term care policies.

At-home care in the Atlanta Metro Area

Kadan Homecare’s qualified, compassionate professionals can assist seniors with everyday tasks, as well as provide important emotional support for those who wish to age in place at home.