People often confuse between the two as they cannot differentiate between them and the type of services they are meant to provide. These services are meant for the well-being of the patient which is usually an elderly person.
Homecare services are non-medical; they tend to the household needs of the elderly and provide companionship, assist them with activities and help in mundane household tasks so the patient may become independent. Home care services are not prescribed by the doctor, therefore they are not aware of all the medical technicalities instead they are personal caregivers.
The private duty caregiver services are only meant to provide the additional assistance needed for patients to become independent or acquire help to do tasks they are unable to do.
For example, getting reminded to take their medicines, and arranging them into boxes.
These services are meant for a long period and in very special cases it could also be provided 24 hours or for a few hours a day.
These services also provide light household chores – they are meant to keep the individuals who cannot perform any physical activity to be safe and comfort at their home, regain their independence and have the emotional support of some sort in many cases.
Home care services are meant to provide personal care such as grooming and help with mobility.
Home healthcare staff are trained medical professionals prescribed by the doctor to provide you medical assistance at the comfort of your home without being readmitted to the hospital.
Certain health conditions limit the options of visiting the hospitals therefore in very special conditions the doctor recommends the best home health services. The services are for the injured, and those who are recovering from major surgery.
These services are meant for the short-term basis for patients who are coming home from rehab or a hospital and are paid by the concerned departments for a short period depending on the doctor’s orders. These staffs are meant to communicate your progress to the doctor, cater for your medicines, monitor your vitals and manage your pain.
The home health care professionals are trained to handle any medical emergency and provide the same standard of care that one may get from a hospital with an added benefit that you will not be going to the hospital more often.
Home healthcare professionals also provide grooming services, personal care, IV care, physical, occupation, and physiotherapy. Home healthcare services are paid by organizations or can be acquired through veteran benefits.
Sometimes the combination of these two services can be provided in very severe cases where it would be highly recommended for an injured patient living alone to have both the services.
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However, home health care services are not provided 24 hours they are meant for short term to conduct certain medical procedures or activities to help the patient.
Comparison between Home Health Care and Home Care Services
Knowing which services you need is highly crucial depending on your or your loved one’s requirements and condition. As we have established what types of services both are meant to provide here is a comparison that will clarify things more.
Home Care Services
Homecare services provide:
- Medication reminders
- Therapy
- Transportation – help with mobility
- Medication arrangement and reminders
- Grooming and Personal Care
- Simple housekeeping chores
- Help with daily activities
Home Health Care Services
Home health care services provide:
- Meal planning – nutrition.
- Prescribed by doctor
- Personal care
- Therapy
- IV administration/ medication/ injections
- Care for injury and wounds
- Communicate health issues and progress with the doctor
- Help with daily activities
- Skilled professionals
Home Care Services Overlapping with Home Health Care Services
Here it is quite clear that the services of home care intersect with home health care especially in the case of a person who doesn’t fully recover therefore they would need constant assistance with their daily activities.
And also would need medical assistance to administer certain medications therefore in this case long-term home healthcare can improve the quality of life of the patient. And in some cases reduce depression when provided with the right companionship.
Considering you have a disabled elderly patient who has bonded with their home healthcare worker in such cases patients look up to their visit so they would communicate and get affirmation of their health getting better.
In some cases, home health care professionals are very useful in trying to communicate the patient with their family and meeting the gaps in their knowledge of the current condition of the patient.
Sometimes families do not understand the way things are therefore these health care professionals can help educate them on their behaviors or how they can be handled.
Moreover, these professionals are also instructed by the doctor about their nutrition therefore they also assist in the meal preparation and guiding the families on what meal suits the patient.
In the case of dietary care, it is highly crucial if disabled patients cannot make rounds of the toilet with an upset stomach therefore in this case these professionals will help educate with the patient’s dietary conditions.
In the case of war veterans, it is very hard to deal with patients who have PTSD and in many health research paper examples, it is proven that war veterans have PTSD which can affect their social life and overall mental wellbeing.
Therefore, in this case, these professionals are highly trained to instill positive behaviors and control their negative emotions which will inadvertently help restore their social life.
About The Author:
Anne Kamwila is a freelance content writer and a digital marketer. She is passionate to write on health, technology, and business-related guides, news, and books.
