Home care and home health care are terms that are often used interchangeably to describe medical or social services that are provided in a patients home to help them maintain their independence and remain out of a nursing home or hospital for as long as possible. Home care is typically used to describe non medical services such as help with cooking and cleaning, shopping or various daily activities such as dressing or bathing. Home health care is the term commonly used to describe the range of medical based services that are provided to patients in their homes including physical therapy, wound care, skilled nursing and other medical services.


Home health care services are provided by licensed medical workers as well as various non licensed workers depending on the type of care that is being offered. Help with daily tasks such as meal preparation and light housekeeping are often provided by home health care agencies in addition to various medical services such as therapy, pain management and disease education. Together, home health care providers can develop a care plan that helps an individual to maintain their independence and ability to remain in their own home despite various medical conditions.


Types of Home Care Service Providers


There are many different types of home care services providers that can provide assistance with various medical and non medical care necessities. Some of the most common types of home care providers include skilled nurses, home health aides and therapists. Often times, physical, occupational and speech therapists will provide home care as do medical social workers, physicians and registered nurses or LPNs.


Registered nurses provide injections and IV therapy at an individual's home as well as wound care, and medical assessments. Home support services such as housekeeping, meal preparation and help with running errands or doing laundry are provided by home care professionals. Home health aids help with activities of daily living (ADL) such as bathing, dressing, transferring, using the bathroom, eating and walking. They also help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) such as light housework, preparing meals, taking medications, shopping for food or clothing, operating the telephone and managing money.


Who Pays for Home Health Care?


Home health care can be paid for in a number of ways depending on your unique situation financially and medically. Most often, home health care is paid for by private third party billing such as Medicare or Medicaid, however there are other options including health insurance, Veterans Affairs and of course cash payment options.


Medicare pays for medical services that are provided by a certified home health agency when the services are ordered by a physician and are medically necessary. The services that are covered by Medicare including physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, skilled nursing, and various other medical based home care services.


If you are a veteran that was disabled as a result of a service related injury or illness, you may qualify for Veterans Affairs services. Veterans Affairs provides hospital based home care services to veterans who are at least 50% disabled as a result of services injury or illness.


Various community organizations will cover the cost of home health care. Depending on your unique financial situation as well as the types of services you require and the various community organizations in your area, there may be assistance available locally to help you pay for home health care.


Other payment options include cash and various types of health insurance. Depending on the type of medical insurance you have, there may be options to help you pay for your home health care. Many insurance programs will cover a portion of home health care services for short term needs such as those which arise from illness or injury. For long term care in the home, policies differ so you will want to talk with your insurance provider about the options available to you.


Choosing the Best Home Care Services


If your doctor or therapist has suggested that you receive home health care services your next step will be to determine which services you need. Talk with your therapist or your physician about the different types of home care services that are provided and about what specific services you require so that you can begin your search for the best home care providers in your area.


You will want to make sure that you find a home health care provider that can meet your individual needs so be ready to ask a lot of questions when you are talking with the various home health agencies in the area and trying to make a final decision regarding your home health care. Some of the questions you should ask include:



You may also have other questions that you wish to have answered when you contact various home health agencies in the area. Make sure that you make a list of all of the questions you wish to ask so that you don't forget any. This way you can also write down important answers during your conversation with each home health care provider or home health care agency as you are reviewing the various options available to you. Later on, keeping a list of this vital information will help you to make an informed decision regarding the care for yourself or a loved one.