Home Care vs. Home Health: Distinct Programs Providing High Quality Care
Home is more than where the heart is. It is the place we find comfort, peace and independence. For aging and homebound individuals, home is often the best and most preferred place to be when receiving care. In 2016, Homeland at Home launched its HomeCare and HomeHealth outreach efforts to meet the needs of individuals and families. Since that time, both programs have grown in scope and breadth.
For Lora Bierce, RN, WCC, COS-C, Director of Homeland HomeHealth, the development of these programs has been an essential goal to meet the needs of our region’s growing population. Pennsylvania is highly ranked as a place to retire based on the state’s affordable living and high-quality medical facilities.
“We continue to see more options for people to remain at home,” Lora says. “The demand for our services is on the rise.”
Lora has worked in home care since 1993. She helped lead the creation and implementation of Homeland HomeCare and Homeland HomeHealth. In her daily work, she is frequently asked about the differences in the programs.
“It is easy to assume home care and home health services are the same,” Lora adds. “Each offer distinct types of care.”
Home care is comprised of non-medical services to assist with the activities of daily living. Services are customized to meet the individual needs of clients with an emphasis on companionship, comfort and independence.
Services may include:
- Light housekeeping
- Errands such as grocery shopping
- Transportation to medical and other appointment
- Medication reminders and/or administration
- Bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Monitoring diet and appetite
- Assistance with meal preparation and eating
Homeland HomeCare services are provided by Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), who are supervised and trained by licensed nurses as Direct Care Workers in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines.
Home care is typically paid directly by the individual receiving services or through long-term care insurance.
Home health provides physician-ordered medical treatments in the comfort of a patient’s home. This can be as effective as care received in a hospital or medical facility. Highly trained medical experts provide care based on a patient’s individual needs.
Services may include:
- Wound care
- Cardiac care
- Palliative care
- Fall prevention
- Rehabilitation services
- Intravenous therapy
The Homeland HomeHealth teams includes nurses; physical, occupational and speech therapists; a nutritional counselor; social workers; and CNAs.
Homeland at Home consistently receives the highest recognition for quality care, staffing, and safety by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services).
Lora believes Homeland’s continuum of services eases the burden and confusion many families face when their loved one is in need of support beyond what they can provide. While long hospital stays or time in a nursing facility used to be the only course of action, at-home services provide equally effective care in the comfort of one’s home.
“We are here for anyone in need of support and care,” Lora says. “We treat all clients and patients like family.”
For more information on Homeland HomeCare and HomeHeath, complete our contact form or call 717-412-0166.
