Skip to content

Data from Medicare & Medicaid sourcesHow we check our sources · Español

Practical information. Clearer care decisions.

Home › Care

Care services

Care at home

Three kinds of care that come to the home: skilled home health, hospice, and private in-home care. What each one does, the services it includes, and the full page for each.

Care services at home: what each does and what it includes
Service	What it is	Services include	Full page
Home health	Medical care at home, ordered by a doctor and given by a Medicare-certified agency. It is visit-based and usually short-term: help to recover from an illness, an injury, or a hospital stay.	Skilled nursing visits: wound care, IV therapy, and teaching Physical therapy Occupational therapy Speech therapy Medical social services Home health aide visits for personal care, while skilled care continues	See home health in full →
Hospice	Comfort care for a person with a terminal illness who chooses comfort over treatment aimed at a cure. Care is usually given where the person lives, and Medicare Part A covers it from a Medicare-approved hospice.	Doctor and nurse care focused on comfort Pain and symptom management Medications, medical equipment, and supplies for comfort Aide visits for personal care Social work and spiritual support Short respite stays, so family caregivers can rest Grief support for the family	See hospice care in full →
Private in-home care	Non-medical help at home from an aide or caregiver, hired through an agency or directly. Families usually pay privately, by the hour.	Personal care: bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting Companionship and supervision Meal planning and preparation Light housekeeping and laundry Rides to appointments and errands Medication reminders Respite, so family caregivers can take a break	See in-home care in full →

Recommended articles

Getting Medicare Notices in SpanishHospice Volunteers: What They Do and How to AskVeterans Benefits That Can Help Pay for Care at HomeWhat Hospice Care Looks Like Day by Day at HomeComparing accessible living arrangements for a disabled adultReceive hospice while living in a care home or ALFHospice Room and Board in a Nursing Home: Who Pays?Questions to Ask at the First Home Health VisitOvernight Safety Checklist for Dementia at HomeHospice and Palliative Care: Words Families ConfuseMedicare Open Enrollment: A Care-Needs Checklist (Oct 15 – Dec 7)Comparing a Medicare Summary Notice with a home health billQuestions to ask about Medicaid nursing home participationPlanning respite before a family caregiver needs a breakHow to budget for independent living and outside assistanceQuestions to ask about assisted living staffing and overnight helpHow to decide what help you need at homeWhat Medicare hospice covers and what you may still payChoosing an adult day program that fits the householdPlanning support while living independently with a disability