There is a difference between home care and home healthcare. Home health care can be described as being medically necessary care that is performed by a combination of medical professionals, such as a physical therapist, occupational therapist, social worker, registered nurse, or home health aide. The care includes health services such as administering medications, changing wound dressings or helping with prescribed exercises. Home health care is ordered for a patient who is being discharged or who needs medical attention at home. On the other hand, home care can be described as the assistance a person receives with activities of daily living (ADLs) because they are unable to do those things themselves. ADLs include dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting, walking, and eating. Doctors and hospitals do not typically have involvement with coordinating home care services- it is up to the family or individual who needs it.
The Difference Between Home Care and Home Healthcare
HOME HEALTH: PRIMARILY GOVERNMENT-FUNDED CARE
Sources of financing for the two services also differ. The majority of funding for home health — 73 percent or $44.3 billion — comes from government programs, primarily Medicaid and Medicare. To administer home health care, a provider – a nurse, a therapist, a home health aide or a social worker – makes intermittent visits to the home to perform a specific task. This makes home healthcare task- oriented.
HOME CARE: PRIMARILY FAMILY-FUNDED CARE
The majority of home care services are privately paid for by the families or seniors benefiting from the care. Much of home care or private duty services revolves around a caregiver being present in the home during a specific span of time. Families and consumers rely on caregivers for their presence in the home. In this case, home care services are primarily time-oriented.
