How to Differentiate Between Home Care and Home Health Care in Moorestown, NJ

Knowing the variance between home care and home health care can be tricky to start with. When an elderly family member first begins to need help, it can be a push to figure out which assistance is appropriate and when. If the senior requires an injected medication or nursing care while recovering from an operation, then home healthcare is needed. If the elderly family member requires assistance in bathing, cooking or housekeeping, then home care can provide the assistance.

Home care and home healthcare are different in two ways.

Home care offers non-medical services and is not paid for by Medicare, although some home care providers and agencies may be licensed by the states. Home care services are private pay services, meaning the patient or the patient’s family will pay directly for home care. Once in a while long-term care insurance may handle home care as well. Home health care, however, is medical care that is covered by health insurance or Medicare. To get home health care, a senior or a patient must always be homebound and in need of assistance of medical care as determined by a doctor. Medicare could additionally cover non-medical providers executed by a home health aide, but these services are only covered when different medical care at home is necessary. Normally these non-medical services occur at the same time as medical care visits.

Home care delivers non-medical services to seniors and patients recovering from operations. Assistance in bathing and dressing are standard home care services. Other chores home care workers deliver include light housekeeping, meal preparation, running errands and transportation. Help in walking or exercise and other light support to make life easier are offered by home care professionals. As the population ages, home care agencies proliferated to meet the requirements of the elderly who prefer to reside in their homes, but who might require help to do so.

Home healthcare is doctor-prescribed, and is offered by skilled medical personnel such as nurses who can dispense medication. Physical and occupational therapists might possibly be concerned in the health care plan. Home health aides may be assigned to help out with activities of daily living. These services will probably be covered by Medicare as long as other medical care is also demanded.

Home care workers can give medication ticklers, but cannot administer the medication. Home care workers also assist with daily living activities such as preparing meals, light housekeeping, helping with bathing, running errands and providing transportation to appointments. Home care services are privately paid by the patient, senior or their family. Long-term care insurance may also cover home care services.