by Tim Tuttle
Home health care is often confused with homecare, but they are vastly different. Homecare is non-medical assistance with personal care and activities of daily living in one’s own home. Home health care is short-term, physician-designated medical care designed to prevent or recover from an illness, injury, or hospital stay – usually prescribed after a hospital stay.
Home health care includes medically necessary part-time or intermittent skilled nursing care, such as:
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services
- Wound care for pressure sores or a surgical wound
- Patient and caregiver education
- Intravenous or nutrition therapy
- Injections
- Monitoring serious illness and unstable health conditions
- Medical social services
Another difference is that home health care is covered by health insurance, particularly Medicare. Medicare covers certain home health services if you need part-time or intermittent skilled services and you’re homebound, which means:
- You have trouble leaving your home without help due to an illness or injury. Examples include using a cane, wheelchair, walker, or crutches; special transportation; or help from another person.
- Leaving your home isn’t recommended because of your condition.
- You’re normally unable to leave your home because it’s a major effort.
A health care provider (such as a doctor or nurse practitioner) must assess a patient face-to-face before certifying that he or she needs home health services. A health care provider must order the care, and a Medicare-certified home health agency must provide it. In most cases, part-time or intermittent means the patient may be able to get skilled nursing care and home health aide services up to 8 hours a day (combined), for a maximum of 28 hours per week. He or she may be able to get more frequent care for a brief time (less than eight hours each day and no more than 35 hours each week) if the provider decides it’s necessary.
If you need references, my team can introduce you to home health care agencies we trust to take care of your beloved family member.
Assisted Living Locators South Nashville is owned by Tim Tuttle, a retired Air Force officer, the Commander of the Franklin Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of Franklin First United Methodist Church. Tim was inspired to open ALL – South Nashville five years ago after his mother’s experience needing care after a hospitalization. Tim’s teammate, Nancy Blankinship, is a social worker with over 20 years of experience working with seniors. She’s a native Middle Tennessean who personally nursed a loved one through hospice to his passing. Tim has received accolades for his presentation to Franklin (Tennessee) First United Methodist Church’s Adult Ministry Plus program. Contact him at if you are interested in him providing instruction to your church’s senior ministry programs.
