There are various levels of care within the healthcare spectrum, from the less medically complex to the highly complex acute care that hospitals provide. Private duty home care, provided by Homewatch CareGivers, is at the less medically complex end of the spectrum, and is supportive care paid for mainly by private pay or through long term care insurance.
Private duty home care offers home care aides or certified nursing assistants to provide companionship and personal care services – and in some cases more complex nursing services – in a client’s home or living facility. The goal of home care is to allow an individual to remain living in their preferred environment as long as possible, regardless of age or disability.
Home Care, however, is not the same as skilled nursing services provided by Medicare-certified home health agencies, though the two are often confused with one another and often work together in the home to care for a patient’s full range of needs. Home health care is intermittent or short-term care provided by a licensed professional and is often paid for by Medicare/Medicaid benefits. Though Private Duty Home Care agencies are regulated in many states, they are not therapeutic in nature and, therefore, their services are not covered by Medicare.
Home health companies often work in conjunction with Hospice to provide a full continuum of therapeutic services to patients and their families, especially at the end of life. Hospice usually involves a team of nurses, physicians, spiritual counselors, and volunteers who provide comprehensive support to families dealing with end of life issues. Most hospices are Medicare certified. Private Duty Home Care can deliver supplemental support to hospice patients, and home care companies often work hand in hand with both the home health and hospice companies to provide a total care solution.