Home Care vs Home Health Care
Home care is care that allows an aging person that need a little extra help with services so they can remain living safely and independently in their own home. It might be for people who are getting older, are chronically ill, recovering from surgery, or disabled.
Home care is provided by caregivers and aides who are trained to understand the nuances of senior care. Home care aides can help older adults with activities of daily living (including both Discretionary and Instrumental), or just offer friendly companionship. Unlike home health care, home care is classified as personal care, companion care and is considered “non-medical care”
What Home Care Is:
- Companionship through playing games, walking and talking
- Personal care items such as helping with bathing, washing your hair, getting in or out of a chair or bed or getting dressed
- Homemaking, such as cleaning, laundry, and changing sheets
- Transportation to and from a grocery store or doctor's office; along with helping inside the doctor's office or store
- Assistance with safely managing tasks around the house
- Overnight services to help get to and from the bathroom or manage incontinence
What Home Health Care Is (What Home Care Is Not):
- Nursing care for an illness, disease, or disability—including tracheostomy and ventilator care
- Therapy and skilled nursing services
- Administration of medications, including injections
- Medical tests
- Monitoring of health status
- Wound care
You can get almost any type of help you want in your home. Some types of care and community services are free or subsidized. Other types you have to pay for. Sometimes government programs or your health insurance will help cover the cost of certain home care services. Give us a call to discuss your parent or loved one's needs.