Types of Home Health Care Services

This type of home health care—often called skilled care—is provided by a medical professional, such as a physician, registered nurse or physical therapist. Services they could provide include wound care and physical, occupational and speech therapy, says Yount. Other potential services include patient and caregiver education, injections and nutrition therapy. The nurse then prepares a detailed personalized care plan, says Shelly Sun, the company’s CEO and founder. She stresses that anyone signing up for high-quality home health care should expect a similar process.

Often, the best way to find a home health care agency is to ask people who have used similar services for their recommendations, says Yount. “Asking friends and family about their experience is a really great way to get referrals for quality services.” She also recommends talking to a trusted advisor, such as your doctor. For example, the cost of an occupational therapist’s services differ from those of a registered nurse, which differ from those of a home health aide.

Alena is a professional writer, editor and manager with a lifelong passion for helping others live well. She is also a registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a functional medicine certified health coach. Long-term care insurance, which is purchased from private companies to cover such costs as nursing home care or home health care, covers many services not covered by traditional private insurance. The specifics vary from plan to plan, but most will cover at least part of the cost of home health care. Here’s what to know about the different services home health care provides, what to expect when working with an agency, how much it costs and how to find the right agency for you. There are companies that provide transportation to patients who require transportation to and from a medical facility for treatment or physical exams.

An occupational therapist can help a patient with physical, developmental, social, or emotional disabilities relearn how to perform such daily functions as eating, bathing, dressing, and more. A speech therapist can help a patient with impaired speech regain the ability to communicate clearly. Information provided on Forbes Health is for educational purposes only.

To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved or otherwise endorsed by our advertisers. For home health care instance, the hourly rate for a home health aide in Louisiana in 2020 was $17 compared to $33 in Minnesota. It can take a little while for some seniors to adjust to having a stranger in their home, says Yount, which is why finding the right fit is so important.

Depending on the person's needs, hot meals can be delivered several times a week. Dietitians can come to a patient's home to provide dietary assessments and guidance to support the treatment plan. The home health agency staff will also talk to your doctor about your care and keep your doctor updated about your progress. Through a Medicare health plan, check with your plan to find out how it gives your Medicare-covered home health benefits. Forbes Health adheres to strict editorial integrity standards.