What is home health care?

As the name suggests, home health care implies providing health care services at home. Providing health services at home allows seniors to live independently as long as possible and delays move to an assisted living facility. It covers a wide range of services and can often delay the need for long-term nursing home care. As per a survey, most seniors would prefer to stay at home given a choice and not move to an assisted care facility. Being at home also enhances their emotional well-being.

Many services can be provided at home by a skilled care provider or practitioner such as:
- Skilled Nursing
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, cleaning etc.
- Administering medication

Therefore, home health care is an umbrella concept that covers all health services provided in a home setting and outside a nursing home or an assisted living facility. It includes medical and non-medical services such as those provided by home health aides

Then what is home care?

Many times home health care and home care are used inter-changeably. However, home health care is a much broader term. As explained above it covers both medical related services as well as assistance in activities of daily living such as bathing, cleaning etc. The key purpose of such services is to help an ill, injured, sick or old people.

On the other hand, home care includes generic services such as Home care services include chores and housecleaning not necessarily for someone with medical needs. Home health care professionals are often licensed practical nurses, therapists, or home health aides (provide link to main page). Most of them work for home health agencies, hospitals, or public health departments licensed by the state.

How to pay for the cost of home health care

There is no one answer to this question because the cost of providing home health care varies across states. But typically, the cost is either borne by patients and their families or different public / private coverages. Sources for home health care funding include Medicare, Medicaid, the Older Americans Act, the Veterans Administration, and private insurance. To learn more about paying for home care, visit here