Home care and home health care sound so similar they must be interchangeable, right?

Home care, which includes non-medical in-home care services, is distinctly different from home health care, which includes professional medical assistance.

Below are some more key differences between home care and home health care.

What is Home Health Care?

Home health care is medical care provided in a patient’s home by a licensed medical professional. Home health care services may be carried out by a registered and licensed practical nurse, occupational therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist, or any other specialist prescribed by a doctor as part of a home health care regimen.

Home health care services may include the following.

• Prescription medication administration and medical tests
• Wound care
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Diabetes management through glucose monitoring

Who Is Home Health Care For?

Home health care is typically prescribed to those recovering from a hospitalization, injury, or other serious health concern as a more convenient, less expensive alternative to hospital care.

Home health care is not necessary for all seniors wanting to age at home, but benefits those who have medical concerns such as recent injuries, are prone to falling, or have been diagnosed with a chronic condition such as diabetes.

What is Home Care?

In contrast to home health care, home care is non-medical assistance with daily activities within someone’s home.

While home care aides do not provide medical services, they are trained, certified, and professional caregivers qualified to assist someone aging in place needs.

Home care services often include the following.

• Companionship and socialization
• Personal care
• Assistance with household duties such as laundry, cleaning, and errands
• Meal planning and preparation
• Transportation to doctor’s appointments
• Medication management and reminders
• Assistance with managing finances
• Respite care

Who Is Home Care For?

Home care offers professional, day-to-day support for seniors aging within the comfort of their own homes, and services are customized to fit the specific needs of those receiving non-medical care. While home health care requires a doctor’s order, home care services have no eligibility requirement.

The goal of home care is to provide independence, stability, and safety for aging seniors while allowing family members to remain their loving support system as opposed to their informal caregivers.

HomeSpark Home Care Services

At HomeSpark, we know that bringing a caregiver into your home is a big decision and understanding the difference between home care and home health care is the first step in finding the best option to meet your loved one’s needs.

We provide non-medical home care services to the Bryan/College Station area with an emphasis on honor, trust, and independence.

Contact us today to learn more about HomeSpark and our personalized, non-medical home care services.