When choosing care for yourself or a loved one, understanding the difference between home services and home health care is essential. Both options provide care in the comfort of home but differ significantly in focus, services offered, and eligibility. Here’s a deeper dive into what sets these services apart and how each plays a vital role in supporting patients across Oklahoma.
What Is Home Health Care?
Home health care is a medically focused service delivered by licensed professionals, aimed at helping patients recover from illness, injury, or surgery, or manage chronic health conditions. These services require a physician's referral and are typically covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance.
Skilled Nursing Services
At the core of home health care is skilled nursing, which involves tasks that only licensed nurses can perform. This includes:
Medication Management: Administering medications, IV infusions, and injections.
Wound Care: Treating surgical incisions, pressure ulcers, or chronic wounds.
Disease Monitoring: Regularly checking vital signs and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart failure.
Education: Teaching patients and families about managing conditions at home, such as how to use medical equipment or monitor symptoms.
Therapy Services
In addition to nursing, therapy services are a vital part of home health care:
Physical Therapy: Helps patients regain mobility and strength after surgery or injury through customized exercise programs.
Occupational Therapy: Focuses on improving the ability to perform daily tasks, such as bathing, cooking, or dressing.
Speech Therapy: Addresses issues with communication or swallowing, often following a stroke or neurological condition.
Specialized Programs
CompleteOK Home Health also offers targeted programs to address specific patient needs:
Orthopedic Program: Supports recovery from joint replacements and other orthopedic surgeries with tailored exercises and pain management techniques.
Cardiac Program: Assists patients with heart conditions in managing symptoms and improving heart health through education, lifestyle guidance, and monitoring.
Diabetic Care Program: Helps patients manage blood sugar levels and avoid complications through comprehensive education and monitoring.
These services are designed to improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and help individuals achieve maximum independence at home.
What Are Home Services?
Home services, in contrast, focus on non-medical support for individuals who need assistance with daily activities. These services are essential for those who want to maintain their independence but need extra help to live safely at home.
Core Services Offered
Personal Care Assistance (PCA): Helping with bathing, dressing, and grooming.
Household Support: Light housekeeping, meal preparation, and errands.
Transportation: To appointments or community activities.
Specific Programs at CompleteOK
Medicaid Advantage Program: Offers comprehensive personal care for eligible individuals. CompleteOK provides training for Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) to ensure quality care.
Medically Fragile Program: Designed for individuals with significant medical challenges who require extensive daily support.
VA Program: Tailored for veterans, with caregivers who are Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) trained to handle higher care needs.
Key Differences Between Home Services and Home Health
Aspect | Home Services | Home Health |
Focus | Non-medical daily living support. | Medical care and rehabilitation. |
Eligibility | Medicaid programs or private pay. | Requires physician referral and medical necessity. |
Care Providers | PCAs (Medicaid Advantage) or CNAs (VA Program). | Licensed nurses (RNs and LPNs), physical therapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers |
Services Provided | Personal care, housekeeping, transportation. | Skilled nursing, therapy services, and chronic disease care and management. |
Purpose | Support daily living activities and aide in maintaining independence within the home. | Improve health outcomes, aide in recovery and rehabilitation, manage conditions, and minimize re-hospitalizations. |
What Do They Have in Common?
Home-Based Care: Both services allow patients to remain in the comfort of their homes.
Individualized Plans: Care is tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Compassionate Care: Providers like CompleteOK prioritize delivering care with dignity and respect.
Why These Services Matter in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma, the demand for in-home care is rising due to the state’s aging population and rural communities where access to facility-based care is limited. Programs like Medicaid Advantage and the VA program help bridge the gap for Oklahomans to have access to high-quality, reliable care regardless of their location.
CompleteOK serves cities such as Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and other surrounding areas, ensuring care is accessible to all Oklahomans. View our home health coverage map or view our home services coverage map.
Choosing the Right Care with CompleteOK
Whether you need medical assistance through home health or help with daily living tasks via home services, CompleteOK provides comprehensive options tailored to your needs. Our Community Liaisons and Clinical Liaisons are dedicated to helping Oklahomans navigate the care system and supporting them every step of the way. Request a no-cost consultation or evaluation today. We can answer any questions you may have about care for yourself or a loved one.
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