Home health care is skilled care at home.
- Home health usually means part-time or intermittent skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social services, or home health aide support connected to a skilled care plan.
- It is different from private-duty home care, which usually focuses on bathing, meals, errands, companionship, transportation, supervision, and household help.
- Families often need both: Medicare-related home health for skilled care and separate home care support for daily living needs.
When families usually need this page
- A senior is leaving the hospital and discharge staff mentions home health.
- A doctor recommends therapy, wound care, medication teaching, or skilled nursing at home.
- The family is comparing home health, skilled nursing rehab, nursing homes, and private home care.
- A Medicare Advantage plan requires authorization or a contracted home health agency.
- DME such as a walker, hospital bed, oxygen, commode, or wound care supplies must be coordinated before the senior is home.
Home health care
Skilled care at home, often after illness, surgery, hospitalization, wound care, medication changes, or therapy needs.
Home care
Non-medical help with meals, bathing, errands, companionship, transportation, supervision, and caregiver relief.
Skilled nursing or rehab
Facility-based care may be needed when the senior is not safe between home visits or needs more intensive medical or therapy support.
Call before care starts and ask these exact questions
- Are you Medicare-certified and are you in network with this exact Medicare Advantage or insurance plan?
- Which services can start now: nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, aide services, or medical social work?
- When is the first visit, and who calls the family if the schedule changes?
- What doctor order, discharge summary, medication list, wound care order, or therapy plan do you need?
- Who coordinates DME such as walkers, hospital beds, oxygen, commodes, wound care supplies, or incontinence supplies?
- What services are not covered and may require private-pay home care?
Start with high-demand states
These state pages connect home health planning to Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid or Medi-Cal, hospital discharge, DME, and local agency comparison.