Home Health Care vs. Non-Medical Home Care The Differences of Home Health and Non- Medical Home Care by Home Health Solutions Group

The significant difference between home health care vs. non-medical home care is the level of medically skilled care administered by the home health care staff. Home health is care given to patients at home by medically trained and licensed professionals. It is an alternative to receiving care in a nursing home or hospital to regain health and independence.

In-Home care allows individuals to age in place at home by offering custodial care, homemaker services, in-home care, and companionship services. Family members, private caregivers, or caregivers employed by home care agencies, a licensed agency that holds a Home and Community Support Services License provide the care at home.

Home health targets are recovering patients who are ill with a chronic condition like heart failure or an acute health condition like surgery for a hip replacement, or has an injury. Home health care permits early discharge from a hospital, reduces hospital admissions and assists with rapid recovery. It’s less expensive, more accessible and as effective as care from a hospital or skilled nursing facility.

elder care.jpg  Fotolia_102001426_S.jpg

Home Health Care

The services of home health, prescribed by a physician, and administered by a nurse, home health aide, certified nurse assistant, licensed vocational nurse, or a doctor. Payment options are private medical insurance or Medicare.

  • Catheter care, injections, IV infusions, tracheotomy care, ventilator patient care and teaching diabetes management
  • Post-op rehab: physical (mobility training), occupational and speech therapies
  • Administer medication
  • Pain management
  • Discharge planning, skilled assessments, and training, facilitating support groups, grief counseling, child or elder abuse investigations and reporting
  • Education on disease management
  • Wound care
  • Teaching medication management
  • Durable medical equipment

Non-Medical Home Care

Non-medical home care (home care) services, offered by caregivers, perform only non-medical care tasks. Payment options are out-of-pocket private pay or long-term care insurance. Medicare does not pay for in-home care because Medicare only covers medical expenses, and in-home care is non-medical.

In-home care is not home health, and it offers:

  • Assistance with Activities of Daily Living and Personal Care such as feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing, ambulation and transferring
  • Assistance with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, such as light housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, errands, meal preparation, medication reminders and companionship
  • Personal Assistant Services (PAS) which includes any hands-on assistance, incontinent care, and bathing
  • Companionship services which include social outings, playing cards, visiting and conversation, reading books, activities and hobbies, recreational activities and travel
  • Caregivers provide reminders to clients to take medication
  • Light transportation
  • Respite Care that gives caregivers a much-needed break

Who Uses Home Health Care Services?

People of all ages; 65 and older, newborns, centenarians but the mostly it’s used for those ages 65 and older

  • When discharged from a hospital or nursing home but need additional care
  • Those terminally ill and want to live their final days at home
  • Individuals with short-term health needs
  • Those needing assistance, due to age or disability, to remain at home

Who Uses Non-Medical Home Care Services?

People of all ages but mostly older adults who need some help to remain at home safely and independently:

  • Need some help with meal preparation
  • Need some help with bathing and dressing
  • Need some help with toileting and transferring
  • Need some help with transportation
  • Want companionship and company
  • Need some help with housecleaning and laundry

For more information call us at 786-991-2300 or visit our site Home Health Solutions Group

Leave a comment