--- title: "Home Care vs Home Health Care: Which Does Your Parent Need?" description: "Home care vs home health care: one helps with daily life, the other is skilled care ordered by a doctor. Learn who pays and how to pick or combine them." url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/home-care-vs-home-health-care/ publisher: HomeCare.com phone: 800-974-3458 start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com --- Guide: Choosing care # Home Care vs Home Health Care: Which Does Your Parent Need? Home care is non-medical help with daily life, such as bathing, meals, rides and company. Home health care is skilled medical care, like nursing or therapy, ordered by a doctor. Medicare may cover home health in limited cases. It generally does not cover home care. Many families use both. Updated October 15, 20268 min readBy HomeCare.com 01 ## Different jobs Home care helps with daily living. Home health care treats a medical need, such as a wound, an illness or recovery from surgery. 02 ## Different rules A doctor orders home health care and a Medicare-certified agency delivers it. Home care needs no doctor's order. 03 ## Different payers Medicare can pay for some home health care. It does not pay for non-medical home care when that is the only care needed. 04 ## Often used together Skilled visits are short and part-time. Non-medical caregivers fill the rest of the week. On this page 1. What is the difference between home care and home health care? 2. What does non-medical home care include? 3. What does home health care include? 4. Does Medicare pay for home care or home health? 5. Can my parent have both at the same time? 6. Which one does my parent need? 7. What does HomeCare.com provide? 8. What mix-ups do families run into? 9. What should I ask the doctor? 10. Next step Questions about care for your family? [800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458) ## What is the difference between home care and home health care? Home care helps with daily life. Home health care treats a medical condition. The names sound alike, and that causes many mistakes when families search for help. What to compare Home care Home health care Type of help Non-medical: personal care, meals, housekeeping, rides, company Skilled medical care: nursing, therapy, wound care, medical monitoring Who orders it You or your family A doctor or qualified provider Who provides it Trained non-medical caregivers Nurses, therapists and aides working under a care plan How long Hours or days per week, for as long as needed Part-time or intermittent visits, for as long as the person stays eligible Main payer Mostly private pay, sometimes long-term care insurance or a state program Medicare can pay in some cases, plus Medicaid and private insurance The Alzheimer’s Association describes in-home help in four types: companion, personal care, homemaker and skilled care. The first three are home care. Skilled care, such as wound care, injections and physical therapy from a licensed professional, is the home health side. NIA draws the same line. It describes home health care as services for health needs such as medications, wound care, medical equipment and physical therapy. Our [home care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care/) and [home health care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-care/) glossary entries give the short definitions. ## What does non-medical home care include? Non-medical home care helps a person do what they can no longer do alone. It keeps them safe and comfortable at home. It is not treatment. Typical help includes: - Bathing, dressing and grooming - Help with the toilet, walking and getting in and out of a chair - Meal planning and cooking - Light housekeeping and laundry - Rides to appointments and errands - Medication reminders, which are not the same as giving medicine - Company and conversation These tasks are often called activities of daily living. HomeCare.com’s [companion care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/companion-care/) and personal care services fit here. Our guide to [companion care vs personal care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/companion-care-vs-personal-care/) shows what each level does. CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey reports a national median of $35 an hour for a non-medical caregiver. In that survey, the category covers an aide who helps with daily activities, plus light housekeeping and meal preparation. It is separate from skilled nursing at home, which CareScout puts at a $90 national median per hour. Do not mix the two numbers when you budget. ## What does home health care include? Home health care is skilled care that a doctor orders. It often follows an illness, injury, surgery or hospital stay. Visits are part-time or intermittent and follow a plan of care. Medicare has no fixed limit on the number of covered visits while the person still qualifies. Medicare lists these services: - Part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care - Physical, occupational and speech therapy - Medical social services - Aide care, only when you also get skilled nursing or therapy Examples include changing a wound dressing, giving injections, teaching a family how to use medical equipment and therapy to rebuild strength after a fall. A nurse or therapist visits for a set time, then leaves. The glossary explains [skilled nursing care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/skilled-nursing-care/) and the Medicare home health benefit. A home health aide in this setting works under the agency’s care plan. ## Does Medicare pay for home care or home health? Medicare can pay for home health care if you meet its rules. It does not pay for home care when that is the only care you need. This is the biggest money difference between the two. Medicare.gov says you must: 1. Need skilled services on a part-time or intermittent basis. You do not qualify if you need more than that. 2. Be [homebound](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/homebound-status/). That means leaving home is not recommended because of your condition, or it takes a lot of effort. 3. See a doctor or qualified provider in person. They must confirm you need home health care and order it. 4. Use a Medicare-certified home health agency. If you qualify, covered home health services cost you nothing. Medicare.gov also lists what it does not cover: round-the-clock care at home, home-delivered meals, homemaker tasks such as shopping or cleaning that are not part of your care plan, and custodial or personal care such as help with bathing or dressing when it is the only care you need. Medicare calls non-medical help with daily tasks long-term care, or [custodial care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/custodial-care/). It says Medicare and most health insurance do not pay for it. Medicare points to Medicaid, depending on your state, and private long-term care insurance as other options. NIA adds that Medicaid home health benefits vary by state. Rules and plans change. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your plan to check your own coverage. For a wider list of gaps, read [what Medicare doesn’t cover](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/home-care-resources/what-medicare-doesnt-cover/). For the money picture, see our [cost of home care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/cost-of-home-care/) page. ## Can my parent have both at the same time? Yes, and many do. The two types fill different gaps. Skilled visits are short. The rest of the day still needs someone. Here is a common example. Your father comes home after hip surgery. A home health nurse and a physical therapist visit a few times a week. Between visits, he needs help getting washed, dressed, fed and safe. A non-medical caregiver covers those hours. Need Who helps Wound check, exercises, medical teaching Home health nurse or therapist Bathing, meals, walking help, rides Non-medical caregiver Reminding him to take his medicine Non-medical caregiver Giving medicine or injections Nurse, doctor’s team or family trained to do so Company and safety between visits Non-medical caregiver The home health team and the caregiver can share notes. Ask each one how they will talk to each other. A care log kept in the home helps. When the person no longer needs skilled care or no longer qualifies, the home health visits stop. The need for daily help often continues. That is when non-medical care becomes the main support. See our guide to how many hours of home care you need. ## Which one does my parent need? Start with one question: is there a medical task a licensed professional must do? If yes, ask the doctor about home health care. If no, home care is the right fit. Use this checklist: 1. **Did a doctor say skilled care is needed?** Wound care, injections, therapy and monitoring a medical condition are skilled tasks. Ask for a home health referral. 2. **Is the need only daily living?** Bathing, meals, safety and company call for home care. 3. **Is the need both?** Plan for both, and ask the doctor how long skilled visits will last. 4. **Is the need skilled or daily?** Home health covers part-time skilled visits while your parent qualifies. Home care covers daily help and can go on for years. 5. **How will you pay?** Medicare may pay for the skilled part. Home care is mostly paid privately. Ask a care advisor which payment options apply to your situation. A hospital discharge planner can explain the home health options and arrange a referral. Ask them before your parent leaves the hospital. ## What does HomeCare.com provide? HomeCare.com provides non-medical care. It connects families with credentialed, non-medical caregivers and supports the care with its own app and support team. Its caregivers do not give medication, wound care or skilled nursing. HomeCare.com says every professional caregiver it refers must pass a thorough background check. It says its mobile app confirms the caregiver is at the house on time and that billed hours are accurate. It also says families choose the number of visits and the hours per visit, with no minimums and no contracts. HomeCare.com is not a home health agency. If your parent needs skilled care, work with a home health agency for that part. Then use HomeCare.com for the daily help around it. Services include companion care, personal care and live-in care. For questions to ask any provider, read our list of 9 questions for home care providers. ## What mix-ups do families run into? The names cause most of the trouble. Many companies use “home care,” “home health” and “in-home care” in loose ways. Always ask what tasks a person may do, not just what the service is called. Common mix-ups: - **“Home health aide” does not always mean medical.** Some aides help with bathing and meals. Others work under a nurse’s plan. Ask who supervises the aide and what the aide may do. - **“Private duty” can mean either.** Some private duty services are non-medical. Others are private duty nursing. Check the license and the task list. - **“Medicare will cover it” is not a safe assumption.** Coverage depends on a doctor’s order, a skilled need and a homebound status. It stops when the skilled need ends. - **Hours are not equal.** One hour of a nurse costs far more than one hour of a non-medical caregiver. CareScout’s 2025 survey shows the national medians are $90 and $35 an hour. ## What should I ask the doctor? Ask the doctor what care is medically needed and for how long. The doctor can order home health care and explain what a non-medical caregiver can safely handle. Bring a list so you do not forget anything. Good questions: 1. Does my parent need skilled nursing or therapy at home? For how long? 2. Does my parent meet the rules for a home health referral? 3. Who should give the medicine, and how often? 4. What warning signs mean we should call you or go to the hospital? 5. What can a non-medical caregiver safely help with, and what should they not do? Write the answers in one place, and share them with whoever helps at home. Caregivers can remind your parent and report changes. They do not replace the medical team. ## Next step If you are not sure which type your parent needs, start with the doctor for the medical side. Then talk to a care advisor about the daily help. Call 800-974-3458 or [request a call](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/contact/) to describe the situation and plan the non-medical part. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between home care and home health care? Home care is non-medical help with daily life: bathing, dressing, meals, housekeeping, rides and company. Home health care is skilled medical care, such as nursing or therapy, that a doctor orders for a condition. One supports daily living. The other treats a health problem. ### Does Medicare pay for home care or home health? Medicare may pay for home health care when a doctor orders it, you need skilled care part-time, you are homebound and a Medicare-certified agency provides it. Medicare generally does not pay for home care when help with bathing, dressing or chores is the only care you need. ### Can I have both at the same time? Yes. Many families do. A nurse or therapist visits for a short time to treat a condition. A non-medical caregiver helps on the other days and hours with meals, bathing, safety and company. The two teams do different jobs, so they do not overlap. ### Who provides home health care? Licensed professionals provide it: nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and aides who work under them. For Medicare coverage, a Medicare-certified home health agency must deliver the care and a doctor or other qualified provider must order it. ### Is a home health aide the same as a caregiver? Not always. A home health aide often works with a home health agency under a nurse's plan. A non-medical caregiver helps with daily tasks under a family's care plan and does not give medical care. The titles overlap, so ask what tasks the person may do. ### Does HomeCare.com provide home health care? No. HomeCare.com connects families with credentialed, non-medical caregivers. Its caregivers do not give medication, wound care or skilled nursing. If your parent needs those, ask the doctor about a home health agency, and use non-medical care alongside it. ## Sources 1. [Medicare.gov: Home health services](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services) 2. [Medicare.gov: Long-term care](https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care) 3. [National Institute on Aging: Services for older adults living at home](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/services-older-adults-living-home) 4. [National Institute on Aging: What is long-term care?](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/long-term-care/what-long-term-care) 5. [Alzheimer's Association: In-home care](https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/care-options/in-home-care) 6. [CareScout: 2025 Cost of Care Survey](https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care) ## Terms in this guide - [Activities of daily living (ADLs)](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/activities-of-daily-living/) - [Medicare home health benefit](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicare-home-health-benefit/) - [Long-term care insurance](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/long-term-care-insurance/) - [Home health aide (HHA)](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-aide/) - [Private duty nursing](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/private-duty-nursing/) - [Skilled nursing care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/skilled-nursing-care/) - [Hospital discharge](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/hospital-discharge/) - [Cost of home care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/cost-of-home-care/) - [Background check](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/background-check/) - [Home health care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-care/) ## Keep reading - [**Companion Care vs Personal Care: What Each Level Does and Does Not Do**Companion care gives company, light housekeeping, meals, rides and reminders. Personal care adds hands-on help with bathing, toileting, dressing and moving...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/companion-care-vs-personal-care/) - [**Live-In Care vs 24-Hour Care: How to Choose**Live-in care means one caregiver lives in the home and needs breaks and sleep. 24-hour care means a team of caregivers works shifts, so someone is always...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/live-in-vs-24-hour-care/) - [**What Medicare Doesn't Cover**Although Medicare helps with the cost of health care, it doesn’t cover all medical expenses or ANY of the cost of long-term care. See what Medicare covers.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/home-care-resources/what-medicare-doesnt-cover/) - [**How Many Hours of Home Care Does Your Parent Need? A Simple Needs Checklist**Count what your parent cannot do alone, and when. A few tasks a week may need two to four hours of visits. Help with bathing, meals and mobility every day...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/how-many-hours-of-home-care-do-i-need/) - [**Respite Care at Home: How Family Caregivers Get a Break**Respite care is short-term care that gives a family caregiver a break while their loved one stays safe. At home, a paid caregiver, volunteer, or relative...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/respite-care-at-home/) - [**VA Benefits for Home Care: Aid and Attendance, Caregiver Programs and More**The VA does not have one home care benefit. It has several. Aid and Attendance adds money to a VA pension for wartime Veterans and surviving spouses who need...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/va-benefits-for-home-care/) ## Talk to a care advisor today. Free consultation. No minimums, no contracts. 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