After my father-in-law passed we had to decide what help my mother-in-law and sister-in-law needed. My mother-in-law, while spry and mentally sharp, was 90 and my sister-in-law, who lived with them, has end stage multiple sclerosis. Needless to say, my mother-in-law could not run a household and take care of my sister-in-law’s needs. They were not ready to leave their home so we considered Home Care. I thought the terms home health and home care were interchangeable but they are very different things.
Home Health Care (HHC) is medical care in your home. The patient’s needs are met by RNs, registered therapists and home health aides under the supervision of an RN or doctor. Home Health Care requires a doctor’s orders. HHC is not usually long term, however it can be used for long-term administration of “skilled” medicine, such as sliding scale insulin, catheters, and/or ostomy bags. Typically, Home Health is for things like wound care, IV’s, physical therapy after surgery or an illness. Depending on the provider, some Home Health companies will even help patients with pic lines or feeding tubes, although it is important to ask, as it is not common.
Think of it this way: if a medical issue needs a needle of sorts, or something more complicated than taking a pill, it will usually fall under the purview of Home Health.
Home Health is usually covered by Medicare, MediCal and/or other primary insurance if the patient qualifies.
My mother-in-law and sister-in-law did not require medical supervision. While my sister-in-law requires quite a bit of assistance, she doesn’t need medical supervision at home. What they really needed was support with their ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), as well as help around the house. That’s where Home Care comes in.
Home Care is non-medical support and long-term. The caregivers are not RNs and are caregivers or personal care aides. They help patients with their ADLs like bathing, dressing, and eating. Sometimes light housekeeping and cooking may be arranged. In many cases, people will even hire home caregivers for companionship so they don’t have to be alone, or to drive them to doctors appointments. Many caregivers are companions and will accompany patients to appointments. Just make sure they’re good notetakers!
Home Health Care is for aging adults who aren’t ready to leave their home but require daily help. HHC is usually paid out-of-pocket or long-term care insurance.
We settled on a company that sent caregivers every morning. Unfortunately, HHC wasn’t a good fit for our family. My mother-in-law wanted the same person every day and that was simply not possible. I know people who have had very positive experiences with HHC and there are very reputable companies out there – it just didn’t work for us. They are now in Assisted Living and a skilled nursing community and are very happy! We all are!
If you or a loved one are going to look into health care, make sure they are licensed and insured. This is a critical attribute that not only ensures they are up to snuff on California regulatory measures, but also, are bona fide in the eyes of the state. It also ensures mandatory background checks are performed on all owners and caregivers of that agency. Yes, it usually means that the caregivers are going to be more expensive than non-licensed entities, but it also means they are working with higher, stricter standards within the state. Be sure to ask for their state license number before signing with any agency.
SLS of CA would be an excellent place to start when inquiring about Home Health and Home Health Care. Please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our experts. It is a free service and we are here for you!
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