Below is a highlight of the differences between our service lines of Home Health and Home Care to answer our most frequent questions:

Similarities Between Home Care and Home Health Care

To understand the difference between home care and home health care, it helps to know the similarities. Both offer:

• Care in the comfort and safety of your home
• Help for older adults to feel better and stay as independent as possible
• Assistance with daily tasks like bathing, dressing and grooming
• Less expensive care than hospital or facility care

Differences Between Home Care and Home Health Care

Some of the key differences between home health vs. home care are:

TYPE OF CARE

• Home health care provides “clinical” or “skilled” care by licensed nurses and therapists.
• Home care provides “non-clinical” or “non-skilled” care by professional caregivers.

SERVICES

• Home health care services are more medical in nature. Home health aides are available to help with things like bathing, grooming, and dressing until you are safely able to do them again or have a caregiver who can safely assist you. But the focus of care is skilled nursing and therapy.
• Home care helps with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, grooming, cooking, cleaning and transportation. It does not include medical care like nursing or therapy.

ELIGIBILITY

• Home health care requires a doctor’s order. Patients have to meet certain eligibility criteria. For example, they must have limited ability to leave their home and require assistance to do so.
• Since people usually pay for home care out of pocket, there are no eligibility requirements.

LENGTH OF CARE

• Home health care continues as long as your doctor certifies, and you continue to meet eligibility requirements.
• Home care continues as long as you want, based on your budget and needs.

PAYMENT

• Home health care is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans for eligible patients.
• Home care is typically paid directly by the patient or long-term care insurance. Medicaid may also cover home care.

CARE TEAM

• The home health team is made up of skilled professionals such as nurses and therapists.
• Family members and professional caregivers provide home care services.

FREQUENCY

• Home health care visits are typically a few hours per week, depending on the patient’s needs and doctor’s orders.
• Home care can help patients 24/7, depending on the patient’s budget and needs.

LOCATION

• Patients can receive home health care in their place of residence, including assisted living facilities and group homes.
• Home care is typically provided at home.

When you’re comparing home health care vs. home care, you should know that you can receive both at the same time. Home health provides clinical care to help the patient recover, and home care helps with day-to-day caregiving and tasks. Josephine at Home provides both home health care and home care.

Although there are many differences between home care and home health care, both types of care can help older adults stay safe and independent in their homes. If you’re struggling with daily tasks or recovering from an illness, injury or surgery, ask your health care provider if home health or home care is an option for you.

Contact us today at 360-386-3106