Home Health vs Home Care

There can often be confusion between home health care and in-home care. The essential difference is that in-home care is non-medical care. For better clarification listed below are services that are provided by in-home non-medical care.

1. Assistance with the activities of daily living (ADLs) and personal care such as feeding, bathing, toileting, dressing, ambulation (walking) and transferring.

• Assistance with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) such as light housekeeping, laundry, grocery shopping, errands, meal preparation, medication reminders and companionship.

• Personal Assistance Services (PAS), which are the hands-on assistance with incontinent care and bathing.

• Companionship Services that include social outings, playing cards, hobbies, conversation, recreation and travel.

• Non-Medical Care caregivers are limited to only giving reminders for clients to take their medication, there be no assistance of any form.

• Light Transportation such as driving to appointments, errands, or simple outings.

• Respite Care providing the much-needed rest to the family member(s) caregiver(s).