What’s the Difference Between Home Health Care and Home Care?

Terms such as home health care and home care are often used interchangeably, but they provide different services.

Home health care is medical assistance provided by licensed professionals such as physical or occupational therapy and wound care. Home care is non-clinical help such as transportation, help with cooking or cleaning, and companionship.

Both types of care can be beneficial to the health and well-being of your loved one and can be tailored to your loved one’s specific needs.

To help you decide which type of care is best for your loved one, it is important to dive deeper into the difference between home health care and home care.

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care is medical assistance provided at home by licensed medical providers. People with chronic medical conditions, seniors, and people recovering from surgery or hospitalization can use home health care.

Home health care can also be referred to as in-home health care or in-home nursing. The care can be provided by registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), occupational therapists, physical therapists, or speech therapists.

For those that are well enough to live at home but have reoccurring medical needs or require monitoring, home health care can be a great alternative to a nursing facility. Home health care can also help people return home more quickly after a hospitalization and those who do not require hospitalization but are not stable enough to comfortably or safely travel to and from doctors’ appointments.

According to Medicare, the goal of home health care is to help people receive treatment at home so that they can slow decline, regain independence, and/or recover.

Types of Home Health Care Service

Home health care offers a wide range of services that are tailored to the individual’s needs.

Some of these services include:

• Medical tests
• Blood drawn
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Wound care
• Managing medications, including administering IV medication or shots
• Nutritional therapy
• Monitoring vitals such as blood pressure or blood sugar
• Pain management

What is Home Care?

Home care is non-medical assistance with daily tasks such as meal prep, personal hygiene, companionship, and transportation. Home care aims to help individuals with their daily tasks so that they can stay in their homes and live as independently as possible.

Home care can also be referred to as in-home care and non-medical home care. It is often used by seniors, those with chronic illnesses or disabilities, or people recovering from hospitalization.

Home care aides can help people with their basic Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as moving around, bathing and personal hygiene, going to the bathroom, dressing, and feeding themselves.

They can also help with their Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs), such as shopping, cooking, housework or laundry, and transportation.

They can come as often as needed for as long as needed.

Types of Home Care Services

Home care services are tailored to each individual’s needs, but common services include:

• Companionship
• Medication reminders
• Help moving around
• Range of motion assistance
• Help cooking or eating
• Transportation
• Help going to the bathroom, bathing, and dressing
• Cleaning, organizing, doing the laundry, and other household management
• Help with paying bills or shopping

Does my loved one need home health care or home care?

Home health care is for people that need professional medical assistance, such as testing, wound care, or physical therapy. Home care is for people that need companionship or help with daily tasks, such as bathing, cooking, or transportation.

While both types of care provide in-home services, foster independence, and can be beneficial for your loved one, it is important to distinguish that home health care is medical care and home care is non-medical care.

This is why a doctor’s order is required to receive home health care. If you or your loved one needs help recovering from surgery or injury, managing a chronic condition, or transitioning home from the hospital or a nursing facility, talk to your doctor about home health care.

If your loved one doesn’t need professional medical care but struggles with their activities of daily living, then you should look into home care.

It can sometimes be difficult to determine if your loved one needs help with daily tasks. Some signs to look for are poor diet or hygiene, unexplained weight changes, missing appointments, lack of medication compliance, a dirty house, and forgetfulness.

You may also want to look into home care if your loved one struggles with loneliness or isolation. Companionship can lead to incredible benefits. These include recovering faster from illness or injury, reduced stress and mental health issues, peace of mind for family members, and a longer life span.

Using a combination of home health care and home care can be beneficial for your loved ones to ensure that they are getting help with both their medical needs and everyday activities.
To learn more about if home care is right for your loved one, you should contact a home care provider.

Give us a call today at (831) 708-2876 or reach us online to find out about how home care can be tailored to your loved one’s needs!

Grace Newman

Grace Newman is a freelance writer for hire and tutor from Danville, Illinois. She is a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and was an editorial intern and editor for Parlia (a Wikipedia of opinions website). Currently, Grace writes about online education at her blog www.getsmartsoon.com. When she isn’t writing, she loves playing card games, having picnics, and binging her latest TV show obsession.