The Difference Between Home Care and Home Health Care

Home Care and Home Health Care are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinct areas when providing care in the home. Home Care services encompass help with non-medical services like Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), meal preparation, and home light housekeeping/maintenance. Home Health Care must be licensed and credentialed under the Connecticut Department of Public Health and their services encompass medical services and nursing services at home to shorten hospital stays.  

The funding and personnel implications of the two fields are distinct. The utilization of both Home Care and Home Health Care interchangeably creates confusion, thereby posing challenges for conducting research in the field of home care services.

Under Medicare and private insurance plans, there are provisions for restricted payments toward Home Health services if recommended by a physician. These services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology. Individuals who are confined to their homes can receive certain services from programs approved by Medicare. However, it is crucial to be aware that insurance coverage for these services may be terminated after a certain period. It is important to understand your coverage and your needs.

There is a wide availability of long-term care insurance policies that offer coverage for Home Care, but maybe a set of restrictive set of conditions. These policies must be purchased well in advance, similar to life insurance policies, years before they are needed. To receive payouts, individuals often need to undergo intermittent hospital stays or spend periods under nursing supervision in a nursing home. Moreover, these policies frequently stipulate the specific type of care needed, including 24-hour care, and require it to be provided in a multi-bed facility.

When participating in-home care, your responsibility is to deliver a wide variety of support services aimed at ensuring the comfort and functionality of clients in their residences over a long period. Typically, these support services are not covered by medical insurance. The individual requirements of your client will be treated as confidential information, shared solely between you, your company, and the client.

For those who require non-medical assistance, home care services are readily available. These services, also known as "assisted living services," are meticulously designed to provide support and care to individuals with special needs, allowing them to continue residing in their own homes.

It is important to assess exactly what your needs are. Viera Homecare is a resource center that can help guide you in the care that you or your loved one needs. Even if you don’t need a non-medical home care service, we can still point you in the right direction and give you options!