What is Home Health Care?

Home Health Care is a wide range of health care services performed in your home as opposed to a hospital or doctor's office.  Services range from part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care to help with personal care, light housekeeping duties and even companionship.

• Home Health Care is an option for elderly or homebound patients who need attention on a consistent schedule.  It can be less expensive and more convenient than a hospital, and share the common goal of helping the patient stay out of assisted living and become as self-sufficient as able.  Generally, doctors order these services for a patient and are provided by a separate home health care agency.


• Skilled home health services include care of skilled nurses, or therapists. They can provide wound care for surgical procedures or pressure sores, physical, occupation or speech therapy, and injections. They also monitor serious illness and unstable mental health patients.  Skilled nurses also teach patient and caregiver education, as well as instruct patients about nutrition.

A health aide provides services that relate to the quality of the patient's life, and can work with movement--getting out of bed, for example--eating, using the bathroom facilities and getting dressed. They may also help with light housekeeping, laundry, shopping and simple meal preparation.

The home health care agency you work with should provide a plan of care so you know what to expect and when.  You will have scheduled visits that are determined by you and your doctor. If there is a complaint, the patient or acting family member has the right to complain to the State Survey agency about any issues.