What is Private In-Home Care?

Private In-Home Care is defined as care and attention provided to a client in their own home environment by a qualified caregiver. The care itself can encompass any level of care from companionship and assistance with helping client go about their activities of daily living, all the way to providing the highest level of personal care and assistance. This type of care is provided “at home” as opposed to receiving care in a facility setting such as hospitals, rehabilitation center, assisted living community or nursing homes.

Why should people consider in-home care as an option?

In-home care is considered by most to be a more attractive option to other long-term care services. “In-home care” is just that — a service that enables a client to continue to live at home in the safety and comfort of a familiar setting, often through the end of their life. It can also be the least expensive option out there as opposed to the expense of living in a facility. Often being in a facility can still lead to the service of a caregiver to aid and assist clients in their daily lives. From a psychological perspective is can also be argued that clients are healthier, happier and more well adjusted in their own home.

What is the difference between home health and private duty in-home care?

It is important to draw a distinction between home health and private duty in-home care, as the term “home health” often has dual meanings in the caregiving arena. Home health is the entity that provides the medical evaluation piece in the home after a hospital or rehab visit. This service is often directed by the medical facility from where the patient has just been discharged. A home health representative is assigned to the patient and will make home visits for an interim amount on time to provide care for the purpose of monitoring vitals, assisting with therapy and providing an overall assessment of the recovery process.

Private duty in-home care is often referred to as “home health” since it also serves clients in the comfort of their own homes. The services that private duty care provides are all non-medical in nature and can often be ongoing in order to help a client with their basic needs and activities of daily living.

We want to educate people on the differences here, because there is often a need for both types of assistance in the care continuum. Home health and private duty care often work hand-in-hand as the home health provider may realize a patient’s needs have exceeded the limits of their medical care and therefore necessitates the need for ongoing personal, private duty care and assistance in the home.

Phil Schmidt is the owner of SeniorKare — The In-Home Experts. He can be reached at (501) 246-5450.