Home Care vs. Home Health
Most people think that home care and home health are the same. It doesn’t help when professionals and agencies use the terms interchangeably. The two types of care are similar, which only adds to the confusion. However, home care and home health are two separate entities, and each has important differences. Knowing the differences can help seniors and their families decide which type of care is right for their situation.
Home Care
Home care provides non-medical care for older adults who need some assistance with daily activities to remain safe at home. The assistance home care can provide generally includes help with bathing, dressing, using the toilet, mobility, light housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation. With home care, a professional caregiver comes to the client’s home as often as needed. Some seniors use home care services once a week, while others prefer assistance more frequently. In addition to helping with daily activities, professional home care caregivers can escort clients to appointments, on outings, or provide companionship. Home care continues until the client chooses to end the partnership. As care needs change over time, clients can choose to receive more help and support from their professional caregivers.
Most home care companies are private pay, meaning the client pays for home care out-of-pocket. The cost of home care varies according to the needs and frequency of visits. Most medical insurance plans do not cover home care, although some long-term care insurance policies may provide some coverage. The cost of home care may be intimidating at first glance. However, the cost of home care is often similar to the cost of moving to an assisted living community, as displayed in this local comprehensive directory.
Home Health
Home health provides professional medical care for older adults who require it. It often follows a hospital or short-term rehabilitation stay, to help a senior re-acclimatize to their home environment. Only seniors with eligible skilled nursing care needs can receive home health. Examples include wound care, injections, tube feedings, or monitoring serious illnesses. Seniors currently receiving physical or occupational therapy after a hospital stay or short-term rehabilitation stay also qualify for home health. If you are looking for a local reputable home health company, start here.
Skilled nurses, certified nursing assistants, and/or skilled therapists come to the home to provide specific skilled services. They do not assist with personal care beyond teaching patients how to use adaptive equipment, nor do they provide companionship. Home health is often covered by insurance, such as Medicare or Medicare-replacement plans. Medicare determines the amount of time a patient can receive home health. Home health has limits regarding how frequently a patient can receive services and your plan of care must be recertified every 60 days by your doctor.
Home care is often a great supplement to home health. While home health care professionals focus on getting you back up on your feet, home care professionals can assist you with other basic activities of daily life.
If home care is the right fit for you, look no further than Visiting Angels Arlington Heights, serving Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mt. Prospect and Rolling Meadows, IL. We provide custom home care services to each of the seniors we work with. We will create a personalized care plan for your loved one based on their unique senior care needs. We can assist seniors with chronic illnesses including stroke, osteoarthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, disability, dementia, Parkinson's, limited mobility, congestive heart failure, and more. Our flexible services are also able to accommodate changes to care if your family member has a hospital stay, is injured, becomes ill, or receives a new diagnosis.
To learn more, or to schedule your free consultation, please contact us today by calling 847-963-8944.