---
title: "What Is Home health care? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "Home health care is medical care given at home for an illness or injury, such as skilled nursing and therapy. A doctor orders it. Medicare covers it for..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-care/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Types of care

# Home health care

Home health care is medical care given at home for an illness or injury, such as skilled nursing and therapy. A doctor orders it. Medicare covers it for eligible people who are homebound and need part-time or intermittent skilled care from a Medicare-certified agency. It is different from non-medical home care.

## Why it matters for your family

Home health helps people recover after surgery or illness without staying in a facility. A nurse or therapist visits for a limited time and teaches the patient and family. Families often confuse home health with home care. Home health is medical and often ordered by a doctor. Home care is non-medical help with daily life. Under Medicare, a home health aide may help with bathing, but only while the person also receives skilled care. Medicare does not cover 24-hour care at home, meal delivery, or housekeeping. Ask the doctor which type of care your loved one needs.

Source: [medicare.gov](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services)

[Read more: What is Home Care? How to Benefit from These Services?](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/family-resources/what-is-home-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Home care**Home care is non-medical help for people who live at home, such as bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, errands, and company.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care/)
-   [**Skilled nursing care**Skilled nursing care is nursing and therapy that only licensed professionals, or staff supervised by them, can safely provide.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/skilled-nursing-care/)
-   [**Homebound status**Homebound status is a Medicare rule for the home health benefit.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/homebound-status/)
-   [**Medicare home health benefit**The Medicare home health benefit pays for part-time or intermittent skilled care at home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-home-health-benefit/)
-   [**Home health aide (HHA)**A home health aide (HHA) helps people at home with personal care, such as bathing, dressing, and moving around, and may help with simple health tasks under a nurse's direction.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-aide/)
-   [**Post-surgery home care**Post-surgery home care is help at home during recovery from an operation.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/post-surgery-home-care/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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