Home Health vs. Home Care: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
- Catie Chung PhD RN
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Let’s clear up one of the most confusing parts of navigating elder care: home health vs. home care. They sound almost identical (annoying, right?), but they are not the same thing. And if you have aging parents or loved ones, understanding the difference can save you a lot of time, stress, and money.
So let’s break it down—Gen X style—with a little help from middle school English class: Who, What, When, Where, Why (sometimes How).
What Is Home Health?
Who Provides It?
Licensed healthcare professionals like:
Registered Nurses (RNs)
Physical Therapists (PTs)
Occupational Therapists (OTs)
Social Workers
What Do They Do?
They provide medical care in the home. Think:
Wound care after surgery
Teaching someone how to check their blood sugar
Helping a patient regain strength with PT after a fall or hospitalization
Managing IV medications at home
When Is It Used?
Home health is ordered by a doctor or nurse practitioner and usually starts:
After a hospital stay
Following surgery
When there's a new diagnosis (like diabetes)
If there’s a noticeable decline in function
Where Does It Happen?
In the patient’s home. (Can happen in Assisted Livings too if that’s the patient’s home!)
Why Does It Exist?
To continue medical care at home after a health event or significant change in condition. It's part of the healthcare system—even if it doesn’t always feel that way.
How Is It Paid For?
Medicare usually covers 100%
Private insurance may also cover, depending on the plan
Important note: Home health professionals do not stay with your parent. They come for an hour or less, do what’s ordered, then leave. Hospitals often imply someone will be there all day. That’s a myth. Don’t fall for it.
What Is Home Care?
Who Provides It?
Typically caregivers or aides hired through a home care agency. They may be:
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), or
Unlicensed caregivers trained in basic support tasks
They are not providing medical care. Home care is considered non-skilled assistance.
What Do They Do?
Think of them as extra hands and eyes. They help with:
Dressing, bathing, and hygiene
Meal prep (simple meals!)
Light housekeeping (very light!)
Transportation
Companionship
When Is It Used?
Whenever your loved one needs help with daily activities, whether temporarily or long-term.
Where Does It Happen?
Also in the home. (Yep, just like home health. Hence the confusion.)
Why Does It Exist?
To support independence at home, especially when family caregivers live far away or work full-time.
How Is It Paid For?
Brace yourself:
Home care is usually private pay
Costs can range from $20 to $40+ per hour, depending on location and agency
Agencies that are licensed and bonded tend to cost more, but they’re also safer since they are covered by specific standards of licensing
Many people assume insurance or Medicare will cover this kind of help—they don’t. (More on that in another post.)
Quick Recap: Home Health vs. Home Care
Feature | Home Health 🏥 | Home Care 🏡 |
Medical or Not? | ✅ Medical care | 🚫 Non-medical assistance |
Who Provides It? | Licensed healthcare pros | Caregivers or CNAs |
Requires a Doctor’s Order? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Paid by Insurance? | ✅ Often covered by Medicare | ❌ Usually private pay |
Duration of Visits | ⏱️ Brief (under an hour) | 🕰️ Can be several hours/days weekly |
Goal | Recovery & treatment | Daily living support |
Why This Matters for Gen X Women
For many of us, home health is the starting point on the elder care journey. It can sneak up on you—one fall, one surgery, one new diagnosis—and suddenly there are big decisions your aging parents need to make but very little guidance.
Understanding the difference between home health and home care gives you power:
👉 To plan ahead
👉 To set realistic expectations
👉 To protect your time, energy, and sanity
You don’t need to do it all. You just need to know what kind of help is available—and how to get it.
Want More Straight Talk About Aging Parents?
This is exactly the kind of thing we unpack together over on my email list—where I share activity videos, personalized problem-solving, and real-life scenarios from other Gen Xers like you. We can do this! 🧡
