“Home care” covers everything from a nurse changing a wound dressing to a companion who helps with meals and errands. Knowing which kind you need makes it easier to find the right agency and to understand what insurance may cover.
1. Home health care (skilled, medical care)
Home health care is medical care ordered by a doctor or other qualified provider and delivered by licensed professionals. According to Medicare.gov, it can include part-time or intermittent skilled nursing (for example wound care, injections, or monitoring a serious illness), physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, medical social services, and part-time home health aide care when you’re also getting skilled care.
Home health is often short-term and goal-focused, such as recovering after a hospital stay or surgery. For Medicare to pay, the care must come from a Medicare-certified home health agency.
2. Personal care (non-medical, hands-on help)
Personal care aides or caregivers help with everyday activities: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, moving around the home, and eating. Medicare calls this “custodial” or personal care. It’s often provided by licensed home care agencies (licensing rules vary by state).
3. Companion and homemaker care
Companion care focuses on company, supervision, and help staying engaged. Homemaker services cover light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, shopping, and errands. Many agencies combine companion, homemaker and personal care in one plan.
4. Respite care
Respite care gives a family caregiver a break, from a few hours to a few days. It can be provided at home by an agency, or elsewhere. Your local Area Agency on Aging, which you can find through the Eldercare Locator, can tell you about caregiver support programs in your area.
5. Hospice care at home
Hospice is comfort-focused care for someone with a terminal illness who chooses to focus on comfort rather than a cure. Hospice care is often given at home. See Medicare’s hospice coverage page for eligibility and what’s included.
Quick comparison
| Type | Typical help | Who provides it | Needs a provider’s order? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home health | Skilled nursing, therapy, medical social services | Nurses, therapists, home health aides | Yes |
| Personal care | Bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility | Personal care aides, caregivers | Usually no |
| Companion / homemaker | Company, meals, housekeeping, errands | Companions, homemakers | No |
| Respite | Short-term relief for family caregivers | Agencies, adult day programs | Usually no |
| Hospice | Comfort care, symptom relief, family support | Hospice team (nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains) | Yes (certification of terminal illness) |
Not sure which you need? Many families need a mix, such as home health after a hospital stay plus a few hours of personal care each week. Ask the hospital discharge planner or your doctor, and see our guide to home health vs. in-home care.
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