As you plan to age gracefully at home, one consideration you'll have is how to continue receiving care services at home to support your aging needs. While planning for senior care, you'll also have to prepare for health care services. How do these two types of care differ? Which one do you need and why?
What is Medical In-Home Care (Home Health Care)?
Medical in-home care is a type of healthcare service where trained health care providers or licensed medical professionals come to your home to provide medical care. Instead of going to a hospital or clinic, you can receive the necessary medical treatments and support in the comfort of your own home.
The main goal of medical in-home care is to make sure that people with medical needs can get the required care without leaving their homes. It allows you to avoid unnecessary trips to the hospital, while still receiving the professional medical attention you need.
What Services are Offered in Medical In-home Care?
Below are some common in-home care services offered by a medically trained professional:
- Medication Management: Assistance with medication administration, ensuring the individual takes the correct medications at the right times and in the proper dosages.
- Wound Care: Skilled nursing care tasks like treatment and management of wounds, including dressing changes, wound assessment, and monitoring for signs of infection.
- Disease Management: Monitoring and managing chronic diseases like diabetes, heart conditions, respiratory disorders, and neurological conditions.
- IV Therapy: Administering injections, fluids, or nutrition as prescribed by a healthcare provider.
- Pain Management: Assessment and management of pain through medication administration, non-pharmacological interventions, and monitoring pain levels.
- Rehabilitation Services: Assistance with physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy exercises for people recovering from surgery, illness, or injury.
- Medical Assessments: Regular monitoring of vital signs, like blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels, to ensure stable health status.
- Medical Equipment Management: Assistance with the use and maintenance of medical equipment, such as oxygen tanks, ventilators, or mobility aids.
- Health Education: Providing information and education about managing health conditions, medication adherence, and promoting overall wellness.
- Care Coordination: Collaborating with other healthcare professionals, such as doctors and specialists, to ensure continuity of care and effective communication.
Most importantly, the services provided in medical home healthcare will depend on your healthcare needs.
What is Non-Medical Home Care
Non-medical home care refers to support at home to help you with activities of daily living and improve your overall well-being. It is different from medical care because it doesn't involve medical treatments or procedures.
With non-medical care, a caregiver or home health aide will come to your home to assist you with things like bathing, getting dressed, grooming, meal preparation, and taking medications on time. Their services include light housekeeping chores, transportation, running errands, or offering pleasant companionship.
What Services are Offered in Non-Medical In-home Care?
Also sometimes called non-medical home health care or custodial care, this is the care you receive at home that does not involve treating any illnesses and includes the following services:
- Personal Care: Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and toileting.
- Meal Preparation: Help with planning and preparing nutritious meals, taking into account dietary restrictions or preferences.
- Medication Reminders: Assisting with medication management by providing reminders for taking prescribed medications at the appropriate times.
- Companionship: Offering companionship and social interaction through conversation, games, reading, or accompanying you on outings, helping you overcome loneliness and isolation.
- Light Housekeeping: Performing light housekeeping tasks such as tidying up, laundry, changing linens, and maintaining a clean and organized living space.
- Transportation: Providing transportation for medical appointments, shopping, errands, or social engagements.
- Exercise and Mobility Assistance: Supporting individuals with mobility exercises or accompanying them on walks to promote physical activity.
- Emotional Support: Offering emotional reassurance, active listening, and companionship to enhance mental well-being.
- Respite Care: Providing temporary relief to family caregivers by taking over caregiving responsibilities for a specific period, allowing them to recharge and attend to personal needs.
- Grocery Shopping and Errands: Assisting with grocery shopping, picking up prescriptions, and running other errands.
All these services are performed in the comfort of your home.
The Main Differences Between Medical and Non-Medical In-Home Care
Medical and non-medical in-home care are two distinct types of services provided to individuals who require assistance or support in their own homes. Here's a comparison of the two:
Medical In-Home Care
- Purpose: Medical in-home care is primarily focused on providing skilled medical care to individuals who have specific medical conditions or complex healthcare needs.
- Services: Medical in-home care is provided by registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), or therapists, who can perform medical tasks and procedures.
- Supervision: Medical in-home care is often supervised by a healthcare professional or a medical agency to ensure that your medical needs are met appropriately.
Non-Medical In-Home Care
- Purpose: Non-medical in-home care focuses on providing assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and supporting individuals' overall well-being in a non-medical capacity.
- Services: Non-medical in-home care is typically provided by trained caregivers or home health aides.
- Supervision: Non-medical in-home care may be supervised by a home care agency or managed directly by the individual or their family.
While medical in-home care focuses on skilled medical interventions, non-medical in-home care focuses on assisting with daily tasks.
Successfully Age at Home with Kendal At Home
If you or someone you care about wants to stay in your own home as you get older, Kendal At Home can help make that happen. We offer a wide range of services to support you and ensure you can age comfortably at home.
With Kendal At Home, you can have peace of mind knowing that you can continue living in your own home while getting the assistance you need. Speak with us today to find out more about how we can help you age successfully at home.
