Home Care
Home care is care that you get in your home. Usually, home care begins after discharge from a hospital or medical center and takes the place of extended care in a nursing or rehab facility.
Keep in mind that home care and home health care are not the same. Home care includes services that help with daily living like housekeeping, meal preparation and other chores. Home health care offers daily living services, but it also focuses on medical needs—such as caring for wounds, keeping you active through exercise and giving you medicine.
How to Choose Home Care
Before deciding on a home care and home health care agency or provider, it may be helpful to ask doctors, neighbors or friends for advice. You may also want to call local agencies and ask them questions, including:
- How long has the agency been open?
- Does the agency have a current license (if needed)?
- How much do supervisors oversee the quality of care?
- How are caregivers hired? Trained?
- What type of screening is done for employees?
If you’re thinking about hiring a home care aide who doesn’t work for a hospital or other provider, you may want to screen them by requesting an interview and references. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about special needs you or your loved one may have.
Once you decide on a home care aide, they will need to know the following about you or your loved one:
- Likes/dislikes
- Medicines—including what they're for and when to take them
- Illnesses and injuries
- Behavior problems
- Mobility problems (difficulty getting in and out of chairs, walking, etc.)
- Nutritional/dietary needs
- Required therapy/exercises
- Cane, walker, dentures and/or glasses use
Additional Resources:
American Geriatrics Society’s Health inAging Foundation:
www.healthinaging.org
Community Resource Finder: communityresourcefinder.org
Eldercare Locator: eldercare.acl.gov