Home Care vs. Home Health in Georgia: What the Difference Means for You

Two different services, often confused

"Home care" and "home health" sound interchangeable and are not. Getting them straight saves families weeks of phone calls.

**Non-medical home care** is hands-on daily help: bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers, meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, medication reminders, companionship and transportation. It is delivered by trained caregivers, supervised by the agency, and scheduled around the family's needs — a few hours a week up to around-the-clock. This is what South West Georgia Homecare provides.

**Skilled home health** is clinical care ordered by a physician and delivered by licensed professionals: nursing visits for wound care or injections, physical, occupational or speech therapy. It is episodic — a set number of visits toward a clinical goal — not a daily presence.

How they are usually paid for

Home health, when it is ordered by a physician and the person meets the program's criteria, is typically a medical benefit. Non-medical home care is most often paid privately, sometimes through a long-term care insurance policy, and in some situations through a state program. Coverage rules depend on the individual and change over time, so confirm current specifics with the program or insurer directly rather than relying on any agency's summary — including ours.

They frequently work together

After a hospital stay it is common to have both: a nurse or therapist visiting twice a week under home health, and a caregiver present daily for bathing, meals and safety. Home health ends when the clinical goal is met; the daily help usually continues.

Choosing a non-medical agency

Ask directly, and expect direct answers:

• Are caregivers employees of the agency, with background screening and supervision, or independent contractors you are matched with?
• Who supervises care, and how often does a supervisor visit the home?
• What happens at 6am when the scheduled caregiver cannot come?
• Is arrival and departure verified electronically?
• What is the minimum visit length, and what does the rate include?
• Will you put the plan of care in writing before service starts?

What a good first visit looks like

An assessment should cover the person, not the sale: medical history relevant to daily care, mobility, the bathroom setup, medications, who else helps, and what the older adult themselves wants. You should leave the visit with a written plan and a clear rate — not a contract signed under pressure.