The Difference Between Home Health Care and Home Care

Many families confuse these two services. Understanding the distinction helps you make the right decision for your loved one.

When a family member is discharged from the hospital or begins showing signs of decline, families are often told they need 'home care.' But there are actually two very distinct categories — and choosing the wrong one can mean paying for services you don't need or missing the support that's actually required.

Home Health Care: Medically Focused

Home health care is skilled, clinical care delivered in the home by licensed medical professionals — registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, or speech-language pathologists. It is typically prescribed by a physician following hospitalization or a significant medical event.

• Wound care and dressing changes
• IV therapy and injections
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Post-surgical monitoring
• Chronic disease management

Home health care is often covered by Medicare or Medicaid when medically necessary and ordered by a doctor. It is intermittent — meaning visits occur a few times per week, not daily.

Home Care: Daily Living Support

Home care (also called non-medical or personal care) is non-clinical support for daily activities. It is provided by trained caregivers — not nurses — and focuses on comfort, safety, and independence rather than medical treatment.

• Bathing, dressing, grooming
• Meal preparation and light housekeeping
• Medication reminders
• Companionship and mobility assistance
• Errands and transportation

Home care is available on a flexible schedule — from a few hours a week to full-time, live-in support. It is typically private-pay but may be covered by long-term care insurance.

Can You Have Both?

Yes — and many people do. It's common for someone recovering from surgery to receive skilled nursing visits several times a week while also receiving daily personal care support from a home care agency like Fodor Healthcare Services. The two services complement each other.