What Is Non-Medical Home Care?

Two kinds of help at home

People use "home care" for many kinds of help. Some of it is medical. Some of it is not. Knowing which is which makes it easier to ask for the right help.

What non-medical home care is

Non-medical home care is help with daily life. A caregiver comes to the home and helps a person stay safe and comfortable. The National Institute on Aging says most home-based long-term care is personal care. AARP describes this work as hands-on support that is not medical.

• Bathing, dressing and grooming
• Using the toilet and moving around the home
• Meals and eating
• Light housekeeping and laundry
• Company, conversation and activities
• Reminders and a watchful eye for safety
• Errands and going along to appointments

This kind of help can be ongoing. It can also change as a person's needs change.

What medical home health is

Home health is different. The National Institute on Aging says it covers help with health needs, like caring for wounds, managing medicines, using medical equipment and getting physical therapy. AARP says it usually needs a doctor's referral and is often short-term. It often follows a hospital stay or an illness.

Who provides non-medical care

Families can hire a caregiver directly, or they can use an agency. AARP says agencies usually begin with a simple talk about daily needs. Then they make a care plan with the person or a family member. The agency recruits, checks and trains caregivers, schedules visits and supervises the work. Many also arrange backup when a caregiver is out.

Caregivers may be called home care aides, personal care aides or home health aides. The job titles overlap, so ask what each person actually does.

The two side by side

• Non-medical home care helps with daily living. It is hands-on, but it is not medical care.
• Home health treats a health need. A doctor usually orders it, and it often lasts for a set time.
• Non-medical care often starts with a talk about daily needs and a plan for the tasks that matter most.

How people pay

The two are paid for in different ways. Public insurance may pay for short-term home health when a doctor orders it. It usually does not pay for ongoing personal care. Families often pay for that help themselves, or through long-term care insurance. Check your own plan so there are no surprises.

Which one do you need?

Some people need both. For example, a person may get therapy at home after surgery and also need help with meals and bathing. Ask a doctor which health services are needed, and whether a doctor's order is required. For help with daily tasks, a non-medical caregiver may be a good fit.

If you are not sure where to start, the Eldercare Locator can connect you with the Area Agency on Aging for your area. They can explain the services near you. Write down your questions before you call.

Good to know

The Michigan Attorney General's checklist for agencies that offer non-medical care says that families must decide for themselves whether an agency is a good fit. Our guide on choosing a home care provider has questions to help you do that.

Next step

Sparrow Haven Home Care provides non-medical in-home care. Every client gets an individualized consultation before services are finalized. Call (734) 436-3770 or schedule a consultation .

More guides

• Questions to Ask When Choosing a Home Care Provider
• Planning Respite for Family Caregivers
• Making a Home Safer for an Older Adult