The terms "home health care" and "non-medical in-home care" can sound familiar. It is easy for people to mistake one for the other but there are differences in terms of when each type of care may be needed, costs involved and resources available to make the best choice. .
What is Home Health Care?
Home health care is care provided in the home by a licensed medical professional, such as a nurse or physical therapist. (typically covered by insurance - check with your provider)
Medical care received from home health care:
- Skilled nursing
- At-home physical therapy or occupational therapy
- Pain management
- Wound care
- Mobility training
What is Non-Medical In-Home Care?
Non-medical in-home care focuses on assisting with daily activities to maintain and sustain quality of life in your home. Professional caregivers who do not have a medical license can perform these tasks, which are also often performed by family members. (typically not covered by insurance - check with your provider)
Examples of care tasks performed by non-medical in-home care services:
- Help with personal grooming like bathing or getting dressed
- Transferring (moving around, getting in & out of bed or shower)
- Medication management
- Meal preparation
- Help with household chores like housekeeping or laundry
- Companionship
- Transportation
Who does Home Health Care and In-Home Care?
Often families find a team approach of using non-medical in-home care services to supplement home health care services. The goal of both is keeping you in your home and working together to make that happen. A licensed home health care professional changes prescriptions while an in-home caregiver helps you remember to take your medications day-in and day-out. A home health care agency can change your therapy if it isn't working, while the in-home caregiver is there to encourage accomplishment of therapies, watch for problems, and let the therapist know.