When someone thinks about home care, they assume home care and home health care are one and the same, but that is not the case. Below is a side-by-side comparison of these services.
Home care services are non-medical and provide companionship and assistance with activities of daily living. These services do not require a prescription from a doctor and are most often paid for out of pocket, but can also be covered through a long term care insurance policy.
It is possible for a total bed-bound patient to receive home care, but additional help would need to be provided to set up medication boxes or administer any sort of injections or therapy. Home care aides can provide bed baths, lights housekeeping, help with dressing, assistance with those using disposable undergarments, meal prep as well as transportation. These services can be provided from four hours a day up to 24 hours a day.
The terms “home care” and “home health” sound similar, but they provide distinctly different services. Home care offers non-clinical help, such as meal prep and companionship, while home health provides professional medical assistance. Another difference is that home health is generally covered by Medicare or private insurance while home care isn’t.
Both types of care, however, are available to your loved one in the comfort of their home and can be tailored to fit their needs.
Home health care
Home health care is clinical, medical supervision provided by a licensed professional. Registered and licensed practical nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists can all provide home health care, often through home health agencies, or in some cases, hospice agencies. This type of care is usually prescribed by a doctor as part of a senior health care regimen following hospitalization or injury. It can include:
● Physical and occupational therapy
● Administration of prescription medications or shots
● Medical tests
● Monitoring of health status
● Wound care
Who can benefit from home health?
● Seniors recently discharged from rehabilitation, a hospital stay, or a skilled nursing facility
● Elderly people who need monitoring after a recent medication change
● Loved ones whose fragile health prevents them from safely traveling to and from doctors’ offices
● Seniors experiencing an overall decline in the function who could benefit from occupational or physical therapy to regain independence
When to use in-home care services
Because of the medical nature of its services, home health care is usually needed after someone has been hospitalized, is undergoing rehabilitation, or is transitioning out of a nursing facility. It can also be used when there has been a change in medication that needs to be closely monitored. If you’ve noticed a considerable decline in health and functioning, home health care Medical services can also provide the necessary therapy to help a senior regain independence and work on skills needed for day-to-day care.
Alternatively, older adults who don’t require substantial medical attention may benefit from home care if they need help driving or with transportation, require assistance with grooming and cooking or simply need companionship because they live alone.
Do you have a senior loved one who would benefit from home care – either to age-in-place or to augment their home health care services? Contact us here at Jancare Homecare.
Our compassionate team will work with you to personalize our services to meet the client’s needs, and we’re also happy to partner with your home health care team to improve the level of care provided for your loved one.
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