It’s not easy looking for a home to take care of an aging family member. Luckily, there are many home care and home health facilities that provide professional services at your doorstep. This means you can keep your loved ones at home without compromising the assistance they require in their day-to-day activities.
While the terms home care and home health are often used interchangeably, they mean two very different things. What exactly is the difference between a Step by step in Home Care Raleigh/Durham NC, and a home health facility? Read on to find out.
Medical Assistance
Home Health services provide medical supervision through licensed healthcare professionals. It is ideal if your loved one requires constant medical attention and monitoring. This can include the administration of prescribed medication, taking care of wounds, and physical therapy. These services are generally recommended by a doctor following discharge from a medical facility or post-injury. It presents a perfect option for elders with fragile health who cannot regularly travel to a medical facility or doctor’s office. The physical therapy services offered can help in rehabilitation post a major surgery and situations where your loved one is experiencing a decline in motor functions.
A Home Care service generally does not involve health care professionals. The focus is mainly on providing companionship and assistance with day-to-day activities. However, there are many situations in which a home care professional can be extremely helpful in monitoring medical needs. Although a home care aide may not be a licensed medical practitioner, they possess training in senior care. At times, it becomes difficult to be by the side of your loved one constantly, and home care can help provide the assistance they need. From ensuring regular consumption of doctor-prescribed medication, drives to medical appointments, and basic health monitoring, a home care service can provide valuable support for the elderly.
Day to Day Activities
A Home Health professional is a medical practitioner whose scope of work is limited to medical services. They monitor their client’s vital signs and regularly administer prescribed medications. However, if the individual who needs care lives by themselves and requires additional support for day-to-day activities, you will have to employ the services of a Homecare professional. A Home Health professional does not help with daily household chores; they will not cook you a meal or dust your walls. Their limited scope of work makes it essential for you to look for additional assistance to take care of your loved one.
While everyone needs something different to get by, a home care service covers most bases. Companionship is one of the most important things a care aide can provide. Your loved ones may feel isolated at home if you work long hours or do not stay with them. Having someone who spends time with them, helps them with everyday tasks will put you at ease. As they grow older and start losing the ability to survive independently, a health care aide can also help them bathe, use the restroom, finish household chores, and take them to the doctor (along with a host of other essential activities).
Insurance
Home Health services are part of the medical services umbrella. A physician generally prescribes them. All senior citizens who qualify for Medicare can use this service. It is also covered by most private health insurance companies and is eligible for most medical health waivers. The coverage amounts vary with the state, but Medicare and your insurance plans cover most of the costs involved.
Home care does not need to be recommended by a physician. It is not a medical service, inclined as it is towards additional support and companionship for seniors. This means that Medicare does not cover it, and not all states will provide a waiver on these services. However, depending on your loved one’s health care plan, insurance companies can cover the costs involved here.
So, what should you pick? Your needs may vary on a case-to-case basis. Both these services are very useful in improving the quality of life of your loved ones while also giving you peace of mind. Care services within their own homes make it much more familiar and comfortable for seniors who need support. Nursing homes can be unwelcoming and difficult to adjust to, and a combination of Home Health and Homecare services ensures that both their medical and emotional needs are fulfilled.