When it comes to caring for yourself or a loved one at home, there are a lot of options to choose from.
Two terms that get tossed around often are home healthcare and specialized care. While they sound similar, they’re not the same thing.
If you’ve ever Googled these terms and felt more confused than when you started, you’re definitely not alone. Let’s break it all down and help you figure out which kind of care makes sense for your situation.
What Is Home Healthcare?
Let’s start with home healthcare. This refers to the medical care that is provided in your home, usually by licensed professionals like nurses, physical therapists, or occupational therapists.
Home healthcare is arranged after a hospital stay or to help manage a chronic condition without needing to stay in a hospital or nursing facility.
What Does Home Healthcare Include?
You might require home healthcare for:
- Wound care or post-surgery recovery
- Injections and IV therapy
- Vital signs monitoring
- Medication management
- Physical or occupational therapy
This type of care requires a doctor’s referral.
What Is Home Specialized Care?
Now, home specialized care leans more into the non-medical side of things. It’s for people who need help with daily living but don’t require medical treatment.
Think of home specialized care as personalized support for a person that is tailored according to their physical and cognitive needs.
What Does Home Specialized Care Include?
Some services under home specialized care include:
- Bathing, grooming, and dressing assistance.
- Helping with getting in and out of bed.
- Meal preparation and feeding support.
- Companionship for seniors with dementia.
- Light housekeeping and errands.
This kind of care is especially helpful for elderly people, those with disabilities, or anyone recovering from an illness or injury needing a little extra non-medical support.
Unlike home healthcare, specialized care usually doesn’t need to be prescribed by a doctor.
How to Choose the Right Type of Care
So, if you need treatment or health monitoring, home healthcare is what you need. But if you need help with daily activities and some emotional support, home specialized care is the better fit.
Sometimes, you don’t have to pick one over the other. Many people use both services at the same time.
For example, a person recovering from surgery might need a nurse to change dressings (home healthcare) and someone else to help them shower and get dressed (home specialized care).
When choosing the right type of care, ask yourself:
- Do you need medical support, or just day-to-day assistance?
- Are there chronic conditions that require monitoring?
- Can you manage hygiene, meals, and basic tasks on your own?
- Is this a short-term recovery or a long-term support situation?
It’s also a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider or care coordinator, especially if you’re unsure where to start. They can help guide you through the options and even recommend reliable local services.
At the end of the day, both home healthcare and home specialized care are about giving people the support they need in the place they feel most comfortable – home.