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HOME CARE & HOME HEALTH Rachel Crisp Philips
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hen it comes time to find home health assistance, a solid plan for quality care is invaluable in order to sustain independence at home. Home health and home care are two distinct types of medical care that take place in the patient’s home. The distinction lies in that 'home health' is clinical care provided by a skilled medical professional, while 'home care' refers to aid from a nonclinical caregiver. Often originating as part of a care plan following a hospital stay, home-based care giving plans can be adjusted to provide what is best for each patient’s overall health and comfort. Learning the details and differences be-
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tween these two caregiver options is a vital step to take well in advance of any serious decline in health.
HOME HEALTH The phrase ‘home health’ refers to a wide range of health and social services that take place in a patient’s home. These services can range from administration of medications and injections, wound care, physical therapy sessions, medical tests, monitoring of health status, speech-language pathology services, one-on-one care from a registered nurse, or any number of other treatments provided by skilled medical professionals.
