Personal Home Care vs. Home Health

Home health care is when a medical professional goes to the house of their patient and provides them with services that others can’t.  This could include help with medications, taking vitals, and providing answers to questions that they may have.  While home health professionals can exist in a variety of ways, they all have the same goal of ensuring that the patient gets the medical care they need in their personal home setting.

Making the choice to begin home health care can be difficult.  Whether you’ve always lived at home and need more care than you did before, or are coming home after a care facility admittance, it can be a big adjustment.  Asking for help can be difficult, but is something that’s important to do.

When looking for a home health agency and a team of professionals, keep in mind that it’s extremely important you trust them and feel comfortable having them in your home.  You’re going to be spending a lot of time with these professionals, so it’s important that their presence doesn’t add any extra stress.

Personal home care

Personal home care is assistance that’s not medically related.  This could include preparing food, transportation to and from appointments, and having someone to talk to.  Personal home care is often an excellent idea for those that are aging and may need some assistance.  Personal home care is ideal for many different people that are looking for some extra support.  If you’re interested in personal home care, start by making a list of all the things that you would like some help with.

At Homestead Family Health, we offer personal, non-medical assistance services. The services we offer include:

  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
  • Bathroom Tasks and Personal Hygiene
  • Meal Prep
  • Housekeeping
  • Mobility Assistance
  • And more

Understanding the difference

It’s extremely important to note the difference between these two options.  Personal home care strictly does not provide any sort of medical assistance.  Home health care can provide medical assistance to varying degrees.

While home health can help with certain medical aspects, it’s not intended to be a substitution for intense medical care.  Those that want extensive help may need to seek other options or discuss those needs with their care team.  Being completely honest and transparent is essential when discussing your plan, so that everyone is aware of your situation and what levels of care you need.   

Which option is right for you?

If you’re looking for non-medical assistance, as well as a companion, then personal home care with a trusted team like us might be the best option for you.  However, if you’re looking for someone to monitor your health and wellness, then you should examine home health options.

Both of these choices are valid and helpful but intended for different situations.  We offer personal, non-medical assistance to ensure you keep your independence, while also making your life easier, not harder.  At Homestead Family Health, we understand the importance of having support and aim to provide that just for you.