What is Home Health services?
Home health services are professional healthcare services provided to individuals in their homes to help them recover from illness or injury, manage chronic conditions, or maintain independence while receiving medical care. These services are delivered by licensed healthcare professionals and trained caregivers under the direction of a physician or authorized healthcare provider.
Home health services are designed to support patients who are homebound or who prefer to receive care in a familiar and comfortable environment. The goal is to promote healing, improve quality of life, prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, and support safe recovery at home.
Home health services may include:
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Skilled nursing care (such as medication management, wound care, injections, and disease monitoring)
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Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
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Medical social work services
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Home health aide assistance with personal care and daily activities
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Patient and family education on managing health conditions
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Care coordination with physicians and other healthcare providers
Home health care is personalized to meet each patient’s medical, physical, and emotional needs while ensuring safety, dignity, and continuity of care.
What is skilled, non-skilled and Specialties for home health
What Is Skilled Care?
Skilled care refers to medical services that must be provided by licensed healthcare professionals under a physician’s order. These services are typically short-term or intermittent and are designed to treat, manage, or rehabilitate a medical condition.
Skilled care services include:
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Skilled nursing care (medication administration, wound care, IV therapy, catheter care, injections, disease management)
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Physical therapy
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Occupational therapy
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Speech-language pathology
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Medical social work
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Patient and caregiver education related to medical conditions
Skilled care focuses on medical treatment, recovery, and preventing complications.
What is Non-Skilled Care
Non-medical or non-skilled home health care (also called personal care or unskilled care) provides assistance with daily living activities and personal support but does not involve medical treatment. These services help individuals remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their homes.
Non-medical services include:
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Personal assistance with bathing, grooming, and dressing
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Mobility and transfer assistance
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Meal preparation and feeding assistance
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Light housekeeping and laundry
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Companionship and supervision
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Medication reminders (not administration)
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Errands and transportation support
Non-medical home health care supports quality of life and daily functioning.
What Are Home Health Specialties?
Home health specialties are advanced or focused care services designed to meet the needs of patients with complex or specific medical conditions. These services require specialized training, experience, and clinical oversight.
Common home health specialties include:
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Ventilator and respiratory care
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Tracheostomy care
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IV infusion therapy
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Complex wound and ostomy care
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Diabetes management
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Cardiac and stroke care
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Post-surgical recovery care
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Chronic disease management
Specialty services allow patients with higher-acuity needs to safely receive expert care at home, reducing hospital stays and improving outcomes.