When families begin searching for in-home senior care services, they often run into two terms: home health and home care. The words sound similar, but they mean very different things. Understanding the difference between home health and home care can help you choose the right support for your loved one to safely age in place.
At PurposeCare, we offer both seamlessly. Our caregivers and clinicians work together to provide medical support, personal care, and everything in between—giving families peace of mind and seniors the ability to thrive at home.
What Is Home Health Care?
Home health care is medical care provided in the home by licensed clinicians. It requires a physician’s order and is often covered under Medicare home health coverage, Medicaid, or private insurance.
Examples of skilled nursing at home and related services include:
- Nursing visits for wound care, injections, or IV therapy
- Physical, occupational, or speech therapy after surgery or injury
- Monitoring for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, COPD, or heart failure
- Medication management and education for patients and families
When families use home health:
- After surgery, to recover safely with rehabilitation and therapy
- When managing multiple chronic conditions to prevent hospital readmissions
- Through VA home health services, ensuring care is coordinated with VA providers
Home health is generally short-term and focused on recovery or medical stability.
What Is Home Care?
Home care focuses on non-medical support. Unlike home health, it does not require a physician’s order. Families can arrange home care directly, whether through private pay, long-term care insurance, or community programs.
For those using Medicaid waiver programs or VA home health services, an eligibility review or assessment may be required before services can begin.
Examples of home care benefits include:
- Personal care such as bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Meal preparation, light housekeeping, and laundry
- Transportation for errands or appointments
- Companionship and daily safety check-ins
Home care can last as long as it’s needed—from a few hours a week to full-time coverage. Many families say the most significant benefit is the consistency of a caregiver who knows their loved one’s routines and priorities.
Home Health vs. Home Care at a Glance
| Home Health | Home Care | |
| Type of Service | Medical and clinical support | Daily living and personal support |
| Who Provides Care | Nurses, physical/occupational/speech therapists | Trained caregivers or aides |
| Requires a Doctor’s Order? | Yes | No (though Medicaid or VA programs may require eligibility review) |
| Typical Duration | Short-term | Ongoing |
| Payment Sources | Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, VA coverage | Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and VA coverage |
How Families Transition Between Services
The right type of care depends on your loved one’s current needs.
- After a hospital stay or surgery, a person may transition to home health care for skilled nursing or therapy. Once they’ve recovered, they may transition to home care for help with meals, bathing, or errands.
- Someone receiving home care may develop a new medical need, such as wound care or IV therapy. In that case, home health can be added to the plan of care.
PurposeCare offers both home health and home care services. That means families don’t have to juggle multiple agencies or start over when circumstances change. You can rely on one organization for seamless coordination, whether the need is medical, non-medical, or both.
Why Families Choose PurposeCare
Many providers specialize in either medical care or non-medical care. PurposeCare offers both, supported by technology that keeps families connected and care plans seamless.
- Seamless model: Families can transition between services without switching agencies or starting over with a new provider.
- Accredited clinical programs: Trusted medical care backed by proven outcomes.
- Compassionate caregivers: Long-tenured staff who bring familiarity and consistency to every visit.
- Smarter coordination with Canarai: Our proprietary technology simplifies scheduling, strengthens compliance, and improves communication between caregivers, clinicians, and families.
- Local presence: Strong community hiring and partnerships mean your care team is both professional and close to home.
With PurposeCare, you don’t have to worry about what happens when your loved one’s needs change. We make sure the right kind of care is always within reach.
Next Steps
Understanding the difference between home health and home care is essential, but what matters most is having the right support at the right time. Sometimes that means skilled medical care. Other times, it means daily living assistance. With PurposeCare, families don’t have to choose between them or start over when needs shift.
- Download our Choosing Home Care Checklist to explore your options.
- Schedule a call with a PurposeCare team member to learn how we can guide your family through every stage of care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Home health is medical care provided at home by licensed clinicians. Home care is non-medical support, such as meals, personal care, and companionship.
Nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists provide home health services.
Home care is delivered by trained caregivers or aides who help with personal care, household tasks, and daily routines.
No. Medicare generally covers home health, not home care. Home care is most often covered through Medicaid waiver programs or VA benefits. Some families use long-term care insurance, while private pay is less common.
Yes, but usually not at the same time. Families often start with one service and then add or transition to another as their needs change.
Home health often begins within 24–48 hours after a physician’s order. Home care can usually be arranged within days, depending on caregiver availability and program approval.
Home health is typically short-term, lasting weeks to months until recovery or treatment goals are met.
Home care can be provided on a continuous basis, ranging from a few hours a week to 24/7 coverage, depending on the family’s specific needs.
No. While many older adults use home care, it can also support people of any age recovering from surgery, living with a disability, or needing extra help at home.
Because needs change over time, PurposeCare provides both services under one umbrella, so families don’t have to switch agencies or start over when those needs shift.