Many people use the terms home care and home health care interchangeably. However, the terms refer to two distinct types of services.
Home Care
Home Care (also called homemaker services, personal care or custodial care) is non-medical in home assistance. It includes tasks like companionship, housekeeping, assistance with transportation, hygiene, toileting and more. Currently, caregivers are not required by law to have any special training or meet any criteria other than those specified by the employer (new state regulations are expected to start Jan 2016). The training and certification programs for Certified Nurses Assistants (CNA) are applicable to many of the tasks performed by in home caregivers. These services are not covered by Medicare, Medicare supplements or any other health insurance plans. They may be covered under a long term care insurance policy.
Home Health Care
Home Health Care (also called Skilled Nursing) is medical assistance in the home. This includes services that must be performed by trained medical personnel including injections, wound care, physical therapy, medical hospice care, etc. It does not include assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, housekeeping, etc). Home Health Care Companies must be licensed by the state and the personnel must keep up their individual professional licenses. These services can be covered for short periods of time by Medicare and other health insurance plans. Insurance covered services are usually available as part of a hospital discharge plan and last for a month.
Questions about care options
