Many people think home care and home health are the same, but they are not. One deals with health, while the other deals with non-medical care. Medical insurance covers home health but does not cover home care, which is an out-of-pocket expense. Individuals with a Long Term Care (LTC) or some life insurance policies may help cover home care costs. Speak with a licensed insurance broker/agent for details.

What is home care?

Home care brings in a professional caregiver or a family member or friend to help with someone’s care or activities so the person can remain independent and live at home. Though it may seem related to medical because the person’s medical condition is why they cannot care for themselves, it is different. Caregivers provide non-medical because they provide companionship or help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs). 

What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?

• Ambulating – helping an individual to move from one position to another or help walk independently.
• Feeding – Supervise or assist with feeding a person.
• Dressing – Aid with selecting appropriate clothing and either supervising or assisting with dressing.
• Personal hygiene – Supervise or assist with bathing, grooming, dental hygiene, nail and hair care.
• Continence – Aid a person with bladder or bowel issues, including clean-up.
• Toileting – Help an individual to and from the toilet, using it appropriately and cleaning up.

What are Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)?

• Transportation and shopping – Help with shopping and transporting a client to and from places.
• Meal preparation – Assist with meal preparations to ensure the person eats the right foods daily.
• Housecleaning and home maintenance – Clean the kitchen after meals, including properly putting food away and dishes, light housekeeping, and maintaining and managing home maintenance.
• Managing communication with others – Assist with appointments and phone calls.
• Medication management – manage medications by reminding the individual to take the prescribed medications, vitamins, and supplements.

How does home health come into play?

Home health is a service prescribed by a person’s primary care physician (PCP) or hospital doctor. The point is to help the patient reach their medical goals. Doctors will prescribe this for qualifying individuals considered home-bound but still need rehabilitation. The doctor will request a medical professional come to a person’s house for one or more of the following treatments:

• Physical therapy
•  Occupational therapy
•  Speech therapist
•  Registered nurse (RN) to monitor a patient or assist with wound care.
•  Home health aide
•  A social worker who provides resources for a patient

When a person receives such care, home health continues for the duration of the doctor’s orders. Qualified individuals must be recertified every 60 days by the person’s primary care provider (PCP). Once a patient plateaus, meaning shows no improvement, then the patient will be discharged.

STAGES is here to guide you through the aging process.