What is the difference between home health and home care?
These two terms sound almost identical, and yet they are so different when it comes to the services each of them provide. Let’s delve a little into each so we can identify the differences between the two types of care. By understanding what each does, one can better navigate and coordinate care for them self or for loved ones.
Home Health and Home Care are similar in that both of these types of care go to the patient’s home to provide services. However, that is really the extent of it. Below I break down common differentiators:
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Home Health |
Home Care |
Doctor’s Note: |
Patient must get their doctor to sign off that this care is needed |
Not needed |
Location of care: |
Provided wherever the patient resides, usually in the patient’s home or apartment |
Provided wherever the patient resides, usually in the patient’s home or apartment |
Type of care provided: |
Most often the visits will be a therapist (Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, and/or Physical Therapist). But might also include a Registered Nurse and/or someone to come out and help with a bath. |
Custodial care which can include: Light Housekeeping, Bathing, Dressing, Toileting, Transferring, Ambulation assistance, Medication reminders, Transportation, Laundry, etc. |
Visits: |
Will often times make 2-5 visits per week. Each visit will often times be anywhere from 15-30 minutes in length |
Completely up to the patient. Can be up to 24 hours per day if desired |
Payer source: |
Major Insurances will typically cover most (if not, all) of these costs. Medicare included. |
Multiple sources including but not limited to: Private Pay, Veterans Affairs benefits, Long Term Care Insurance, Work Comp. Medicare and most major medical insurances will not pay for this type of care |
Duration: |
Most times this type of care will end after 1-2 months (because insurance and Medicare typically do not pay beyond this length of time)
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Completely up to the patient. Care can be short term or long term depending on the patient’s needs |
For more information on getting one or both of these services in place for you or a loved one, please give us a call.
