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
Read more: What is Home Care? How to Benefit from These Services?
Related terms
- Home careHome care is non-medical help for people who live at home, such as bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, errands, and company.
- Skilled nursing careSkilled nursing care is nursing and therapy that only licensed professionals, or staff supervised by them, can safely provide.
- Homebound statusHomebound status is a Medicare rule for the home health benefit.
- Medicare home health benefitThe Medicare home health benefit pays for part-time or intermittent skilled care at home.
- 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.
- Post-surgery home carePost-surgery home care is help at home during recovery from an operation.
