Home Health vs. Hospice Care. What’s the Difference?

Home health and hospice are two options for in-home healthcare but they each provide a very different type of care. Comparing home health and hospice will help you better understand which type of care matches your or your loved ones needs. So, what is the difference between hospice and home health? Some of the key differences between home health and hospice care are determined by the purpose of care, types of services needed, frequency, length of care and more.

Home Health care assists in the recovery from illness, injury or surgery. It also helps people learn to manage chronic health conditions. It is designed to provide care for patients who have an intermittent skilled-nursing need, such as: wound care, physical therapy, speech-language pathology services, or continued occupational therapy.

Hospice care on the other hand provides pain and symptom management for people with a terminal illness who are not expected to live longer than six months. Hospice can be provided anywhere a patient resides and does not require them to be homebound. Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and some private insurances, and includes durable medical equipment (DME) and prescriptions that are related to the patient’s diagnosis. Hospice care keeps the patient comfortable, teaches the family to provide care, and offers emotional and spiritual support. Patients on hospice services choose to forgo curative treatment such as chemotherapy and to focus on palliative care.

Regardless of the type of care you or your loved one requires, Armonia’s team of devoted caregivers is here to provide the individualized care tailored to your family’s needs. Contact us today to discuss what treatment options are available to you and your family.