Home Health vs. Home Care: What's the Difference?
They sound alike, but they're two different services. Here's a clear, side-by-side guide to help your family choose the right care.
Home Health Care
Clinical, medical care delivered at home by licensed nurses and therapists. It's prescribed by a physician, episodic, and typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance.
Home Care (Non-Medical)
Personal support with everyday activities — bathing, meals, housekeeping, and companionship. It's ongoing, doesn't require a doctor's order, and is usually paid privately or through long-term care insurance.
Side-by-Side Comparison
The seven differences that matter most when choosing care.
| Home Health | Home Care | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of care | Clinical, medical care prescribed by a physician | Non-medical support with daily living activities |
| Who provides it | Licensed RNs, LPNs, and certified therapists | Trained caregivers, companions, and home health aides |
| Common services | Wound care, IV therapy, injections, post-surgical recovery, physical/occupational/speech therapy, medication management | Bathing, dressing, grooming, meal prep, light housekeeping, transportation, companionship |
| Doctor's order required | Yes — a physician must order and certify care | No — families can arrange directly |
| Typical duration | Short-term, episodic (weeks to a few months) | Ongoing, long-term (months to years) |
| Insurance coverage | Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance | Mostly private pay, long-term care insurance, some Medicaid waivers |
| Best for | Recovery from illness, surgery, hospitalization, or managing a chronic condition | Aging in place, dementia support, chronic disability, and family respite |
Home Health includes
- Skilled nursing visits
- Wound care and IV therapy
- Medication management
- Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- Post-hospitalization recovery
- Chronic disease monitoring
Not typically included
- Hands-on help with bathing or dressing (long-term)
- Companionship and social visits
- Housekeeping and errands
Home Care includes
- Bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Meal preparation and feeding
- Light housekeeping and laundry
- Transportation and errands
- Companionship and supervision
- Respite for family caregivers
Not typically included
- Wound care, injections, or IV therapy
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Medication administration by a nurse
How to Choose
Start with the need, not the label. If your loved one is recovering from surgery, was just discharged from the hospital, has a new wound, or needs therapy, the right starting point is skilled home health. A physician's order opens the door to Medicare and insurance coverage.
If the day-to-day challenge is bathing safely, preparing meals, remembering to eat, or simply not being alone, the right fit is non-medical home care. There's no doctor's order required, and care can start within days.
Many families need both. A nurse who visits twice a week for wound care, plus an aide who helps with mornings and meals, is a common pairing. Our care coordinators will sort out which hours are clinical, which are personal, and how each is paid.
Common Questions
Can I receive both home health and home care at the same time?
Yes. Many families pair short-term home health (a nurse for wound care after surgery, for example) with ongoing home care (an aide who helps with bathing and meals). The two services complement each other and our team can coordinate both.
Does Medicare pay for home care?
Medicare generally does not cover non-medical home care on its own. It pays for skilled home health when ordered by a doctor and when you meet homebound criteria. Long-term personal care is usually private pay, long-term care insurance, or Medicaid waivers.
How do I know which one my loved one needs?
If the need is clinical — recovery from surgery, a new diagnosis, wound care, or therapy — start with home health. If the need is help with everyday activities like bathing, meals, and companionship, home care is the right fit. A free in-home assessment will make the answer clear.
Do you provide both services in West Chester and Greater Cincinnati?
Yes. The Mindbridge Care delivers skilled home health and non-medical home care across West Chester, Mason, Liberty Township, Cincinnati, Fairfield, Hamilton, and Middletown.
What is the difference between a home health aide and a home care aide?
A home health aide works under the supervision of a nurse or therapist as part of a doctor-ordered care plan and can assist with clinical tasks like vital signs, wound observation, and medication reminders alongside personal care. A home care aide (sometimes called a caregiver or companion) provides non-medical support — bathing, dressing, meal prep, light housekeeping, errands, and companionship — without a clinical care plan.
How much does home care cost per hour compared to home health?
Non-medical home care in the Greater Cincinnati area is typically billed hourly and paid privately, with rates that vary based on hours per week and level of care. Skilled home health is usually billed per visit or per episode and is most often covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance when a physician orders it. We provide a clear, written estimate after a free in-home assessment.
How many hours of home care can my loved one receive each week?
Home care is flexible — from a few hours a week for companionship and light help, to several visits per day, to 24/7 live-in care. Families often start with 8–20 hours per week and adjust as needs change. There is no doctor's order required to start or increase hours.
Does home health care require a doctor's order or referral?
Yes. Skilled home health must be ordered by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, and the patient generally needs to meet homebound criteria for Medicare coverage. Non-medical home care does not require a referral — a family can call us directly to set up services.
How long can someone stay on home health care?
Medicare home health is delivered in 60-day episodes that can be recertified as long as the patient still has a skilled need and remains homebound. Most patients use home health for a few weeks to a few months after a hospital stay, surgery, or new diagnosis, then transition to home care for ongoing day-to-day support.
Can home care help prevent a move to assisted living or a nursing home?
Often, yes. Consistent in-home support with bathing, medication reminders, meals, mobility, and companionship is one of the most effective ways to help an older adult age safely at home and delay or avoid a move to a facility. We build the schedule around your family's routine and adjust as needs change.
Is home care covered by long-term care insurance or Medicaid?
Many long-term care insurance policies cover non-medical home care, and Ohio Medicaid waiver programs (such as PASSPORT and MyCare Ohio) may cover in-home personal care for those who qualify. Our team can help you understand your policy or waiver and coordinate billing.
What happens after a hospital discharge — home health or home care?
Most patients leaving the hospital after surgery, a fall, or a new diagnosis start with home health for skilled nursing, therapy, and recovery monitoring. Once the clinical episode ends, families frequently continue with home care to keep recovery on track and prevent readmission with help around the home.
Still Not Sure Which You Need?
Schedule a free in-home assessment. We'll listen, evaluate, and recommend the right mix of clinical and personal care for your family.