Home Health Care Versus Home Care – What’s the Difference?
Many people view these two options as the same, but really, they are very different. The two areas concentrate on two different goals, and individuals in each field both need specific skill sets and training. It is important to understand the difference between the two when inquiring about home health care with any agency or medical professional.
Home Health Care in a Nutshell
Home health care requires a licensed professional. This is skilled care, such as nursing or therapies, that a person receives in the home. Typically, it will happen after a doctor’s visit or stay at the hospital to help the person stay at home during healing.
Home Health Care includes:
- Physical therapy
- Skilled nursing
- Wound care
- Pain management
- Prescription management
Home Care in a Nutshell
Home care is focused on sustaining and maintaining the patient’s quality of life while that patient remains in the home. These professionals are “unskilled workers” – this does not mean they lack skills. It simply means they are not licensed. They do receive consistent training, and many are trained in CPR and First Aid.
Home Care includes:
- Mobility assistance
- Personal grooming help
- Running errands
- Transportation to appointments
- Companionship duties
How They Work Together
Both specialties focus on the comfort and care of the patient. They also focus on keeping the patient in the home as long as possible. A patient spends a lifetime building a home; these specialties want to see that patient enjoy the home for as long as possible.
If you’d like to have a more specific conversation regarding home health care, contact Vancouver Home Health Care Agency today.
At Vancouver Home Health Care Agency, Caring and Compassion is our business.