One of the most exciting, highly interactive conversations about home care is now taking place on our LinkedIn discussion group, Leading Home Care Network. The discussion was started by Angil Tarach-Ritchey RN, GCM, a speaker, author and consultant from Ann Arbor, MI in a link to her article, “Clarifying the 3 Types of Home Care” published in a blog post on pedagogy.com.
Here are three short excerpts from the article. 
“Home Health Care-
Home health care is medical care in the home for homebound patients. It is a benefit of Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurances if the patient meets very specific criteria. Home Health provides Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Work, and Home Health Aides.
Private Duty Home Care-
Private duty homecare is non-medical. The services are provided by caregiver’s and/or certified home health aides (may be dependent on individual State regulations). The services provided are considered custodial care, and do not require a physician’s order. Services are designed to help the care recipient remain in their home as independent as possible by providing hygiene, meals, light housekeeping, companionship, errands, and medication reminders. Some agencies or individuals providing services transport clients, some do not.
What do you think about these definitions?
Home health care is medical care in the home for homebound patients. It is a benefit of Medicare, Medicaid, and most private health insurances if the patient meets very specific criteria. Home Health provides Nursing, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Work, and Home Health Aides. – See more at Clarifying the 3 Types of Homecare.
Members of our discussion group read the article and then engaged in a discussion about the definitions of home health and home care, what is included, and how it’s paid for. This has been one of the most spirited discussions in the Leading Home Care Network, and you will want to check it out. If you are not a member of the group, log on to Linked In and search for Leading Home Care Network. Click the “Join” button, and we’ll let you join the group if you are an employee of a home care related business.
