Different Types of Home Care Services For 2022

A lot of seniors have chosen to age in place because of the familiarity they have within their own homes.  But there are times that seniors will need help when staying home as they get older.  Seniors can greatly benefit from different types of home care services depending on their needs.  Home care is when a caregiver professional comes to the home to help the patient directly.  With that said there are three main categories when it comes to home care services. 

This can be private duty nursing care, non-medical personal care, and home health care.  Here is what each means and what you can expect with each category of home care services. 

Different types of home care services comparison chart

Private Duty Nursing CareNon-medical Personal Care ServicesHome Health Care Services
Care examples:Hourly and long-term nursing care within the home for injury, disability, and illnessHelp with dressing, meal prep, bathing, light household tasks, and companionship, to live more safely and independently.Physician-directed care, short-term to help anyone recover at home from injury, illness, or recent hospital stay.
How service is provided:Ventilator care,
Help with administering of medication, Ostomy care, gastrostomy care, feeding tubs, care for spinal cord injury, care for brain injury
catheter care
Transfers from wheelchairs, beds, bathroom, and toilets. Help with grooming and dressing. Laundry, light housekeeping, appointment setting, and meal planning. Companionship Therapy (Physical)
Therapy (Occupational)
Short-term nursing services
Home health aid services
How is the service paid for:Private pay
Health insurance
Medicaid
Direct payment
Workers comp
Veterans benefits
Private pay
Health insurance
Veterans benefits
Long-term insurance care
Workers comp
Medicare
Private Insurance
How much provided care can you get:Needs to be written and prescribed by doctor: Can be up to 24 hours a day 7 days a week.Not needed to have a doctor prescribed letter. Care can be on a daily basis up to 24 hours a a day for 7 days a week. Live in care may be possible also.Needs to have a doctor prescribe the service. Can be visits up to an hour or short-term visit.
Private duty nursing care

Private duty nursing care

As we age we may need assistance with day-to-day activities may need help from a private duty nursing care service.  The main objective with private duty nursing care will allow the senior to gain in place and stay within the comfort of his or her home.

Services offered

Private duty nurses can provide a lot of different services while in the home.  From companionship, bathing injury care, hospice care, and more.  Some examples of what a private duty nursing care service may offer would be:

  • Wound care
  • Medication administration
  • Hospice care
  • Diabetes care
  • Brain injury care
  • Tracheotomy care
  • Tube feeding
  • Ventilator care
  • Seizure care
  • Spine cord injury care

Private care nurses can also provide personal care services as well.  Some of them may be: 

  • Cleaning
  • Cooking
  • Medical monitoring changes of patients
  • Provide other daily activities 

Private duty nurses help with a lot of in-home needs of not just senior patients but anyone that would need them regardless of age.  The goal of a private duty nurse to help prevent medical complications by providing patient care by the hour.  

Education of the Private Duty Nurse

There are many education options to become a private duty nurse.  the most common is to receive a diploma in private duty nursing itself.  Caregivers can also receive an associate’s degree in nursing.  Even some hospitals allow coursework in the preparation of graduation for nursing professionals. 

A vast majority of people also choose to search for a 4-year bachelor’s degree from a college with a nursing school program so they can become a private duty nurse.

Like most online schools and learning, online courses are become more popular for private duty nurses to search for the education they need.  Online courses offer flexibility and the ability to take classes from home.

Non medical personal care

non-medical personal care

Unlike medical care, non-medical home care in general means that the caregiver cares for the elderly or person that is disabled by providing daily living activities.   These can be eating to personal hygiene and more.   Non-medical personal care is an important aspect of home care to make the lives of those who need help more enjoyable.

Non-medical personal care services

To get an idea of what a non-medical personal care service provides we have put together some of the most common services you can expect from this type of home care.  

  • Easting assistance
  • Bathing help
  • Maintaining personal hygiene 
  • Toileting
  • Dressing help
  • Shopping for essentials
  • Dressing help
  • Light cleaning around the home
  • Laundry
  • Companionship 

Benefits of non-medical care?

Simply put, non-medical care help seniors age in place within their own home safer and maintain their independence.   This type of care is vital for some seniors because without the service it could mean that person would need to move in with family or move to an assisted living center for seniors. 

It is also important for the family as it can give them the peace of mind that their loved one has someone to help supervise them when the family is not around ensuring they can still live independently within their home. 

Cost of non-medical care

It would be difficult to say the cost of non-medical personal care simply because the cost varies considerably across the United States.  However, according to research, we can see that the average cost nationwide was $22.50 per hour.   This would give us a low of $16.80 and a high of $30.00 when looking at the most expensive areas.

Can you get financial help for non-medical care?

You can.  Depending on what state you reside in there are programs in place for lower-income seniors that may need assistance for daily living.  It is also known that financial assistance may be available from the states following areas so check them:

  • Local area agencies of aging
  • Non-profit organizatoins
  • Medicare program
  • Medicaid HCNS waivers
  • Veteran-directed care program (For veterans)
Home health care

Home Health Care

Similar to nursing care home health care services focus on the patients that require more short-term health issues like those who have suffered from injury or illness.  These types of home health care agencies and nurses might be physicians, physical therapists, social workers, and speech pathologists. 

Home health care needs are prescribed by a physician and during visits care is then provided by specialized clinicians that can last up to an hour for short-term visits until the goal is met. 

Home health care services

Home health care services may provide these services and more.

  • Occupational therapy
  • Nursing services (Short-term)
  • Physical therapy
  • Home health aide 
  • Medical social work
  • Speech-language pathology

Benefits of getting home health care service

For those who get hoe health care services within their home, it can create many benefits to the person that is receiving the care.  Not to mention giving the family of the elderly person peace of mind.   

Home health care services can help with many needs to keep the patient comfortable and as safe as possible while in the home.  Remember the goal of home health care is to treat injury or illness to help them stay as independent and functional as possible within the comfort of their own home. 

  • Easier for family and friends to visit
  • Staying in the comfort of the patients home
  • Allows for more independence and freedom
  • Tailored need of the patient
  • Reduce the rate of re-hospitalizations 

The typical cost of home health care service

According to Genworth Financials and the Cost of Care Survey they have done it shows that the average cost of in-home care within the United States is $4,481 a month.  While this is a very high amount for the average American other types of care can cost even more a month.

These figures are done on a national average and depending on where you currently live that price can be much more expensive or less expensive than what they list as a cost.

How can you pay for home health care?

Home health care services are typically paid by the following methods when qualifications are met and then ordered by a doctor and an assessment is done and then as necessary, home health care services can be paid by:

  • Private insurance
  • Medicare 

frequently asked questions about home health care Services

Is in-home care less expensive than assisted living?  When looking at the numbers and you break them down hourly, home care is more expensive than assisted living.  Monthly costs though are going to be calculated and depended on how often you use home care services.  According to reports home care can cost an average of $24 an hour.   Assisted living can cost an average of $4,000 plus a month depending on where you live. 

Our home health care and home care the same thing?  No,  These are not the same thing.  When speaking about home care it is referring to personal care assistance.  This can include things like companion care, driving help, and daily living to help the person feel more independent in the home.  Home health care services have special training to perform medical services while in the home to care for the nation.  This type of care is more expensive. 

Is in-home care covered by insurance?  Yes. In-home care is covered by insurance in some cases when qualifying people are able to use Medicaid and or Medicare cover all or some of the cost of in-home care or home health care.  For some elderly individuals that have long-term care insurance and their policies cover in-home care as well. 

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About ASmith

Adam Smith is the main researcher and contributor at Mobility Medical Supply. Adam has many years of research in public data, and software security. With Mobility issues within Adam's family, he decided to dedicate in-depth guides on mobility products to anyone looking to improve movement and gain independence.