Medical vs. Non-Medical Home Care Services: Comparing the Differences
Home care services play an important role in helping countless people enjoy life, stay safe, and remain in their own homes. While all home care services are important, there are some significant differences in the types of home care that are available. Specifically, medical and non-medical home care are quite different things, so let’s take a look below at how they differ and which one might be right for your needs.
Starting with Non-Medical Care
First, let’s talk about what non-medical home care is and why it is so useful for so many people. This type of service sees a professional provider come into the home of an individual who needs help with a range of different daily tasks. There are many types of services that can fall under this umbrella, and the list below highlights a few of the most common.
- Personal hygiene. For individuals with mobility limitations or other issues that make bathing difficult – or even dangerous – home care services can make a huge difference in overall quality of life.
- Mobility and transferring. Some people who live on their own struggle to move around the house in a safe manner. Another way home services can benefit many people is by assisting with walking from one location to another, transfers from the bed to a wheelchair or another position, and more. Sadly, many people who live alone are injured attempting to move locations in their house, so home service can make life much safer.
- Meal preparation. Preparing a meal is something that most take for granted, but it can be physically demanding for an individual with limitations. Meal prep from a home services company makes it possible to enjoy tasty meals without standing in the kitchen or working with sharp and hot pieces of equipment.
- Other chores & housekeeping. There is always something that needs to be done around a house, including laundry, vacuuming, dishes, and more. These chores, like the other tasks discussed above, can be difficult or impossible for some people to complete.
Looking Closer at Medical Home Care Services
As you can probably guess from the titles, the line between medical and non-medical home care services is drawn where healthcare enters the picture. Once the caregiver is tasked with delivering medical care to the patient in their home, it is considered medical home care. As with non-medical care, this can take many forms, and those forms include –
- Managing medications. Many seniors who need home services take a variety of medications daily, or multiple times per day. They may not be able to manage those medications on their own, so the help of a qualified professional is required.
- Providing therapy. Different forms of therapy can be delivered in the home setting, including physical, occupational, and speech.
- Checking vital signs. It’s possible for someone living at home in declining health to have their vital signs drift into dangerous territory without anyone noticing. Medical home services can track vital signs and take action to address problems, as necessary.
- Chronic disease management. Whether it’s for heart disease, diabetes, or any of a number of other chronic diseases, an in-home medical care provider can be a valuable asset.
Asking the Right Questions
Before hiring anyone to provide care, asking a few key questions about the situation you or a loved one is facing will go a long way. Are there medical conditions in place that require skilled care to manage? What daily activities are becoming difficult or even impossible to complete? What role are budget and insurance going to play in this process?
It’s impossible to perfectly predict the future but doing your best to anticipate what is coming over the next few months – and few years – will help you make the right choice in a care provider.
A Shared Benefit
One thing that home services always deliver regardless of the medical or non-medical designation is companionship. It’s often the case that people in the situation of needing in-home care are lonely and not visited frequently by others. Having someone come to the house regularly to provide important care can prove to be just as beneficial for mental health as it is for physical wellbeing.
It’s not a matter of deciding whether non-medical or medical care is “better”, as they both serve an important role. Rather, you just need to consider what is offered by both and which one is going to be the ideal fit for yourself or a loved one. Whichever type of service winds up filling your need, working with a trusted provider in this space will be a huge relief for the whole family.
If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.
Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater San Diego, Family Matter In-Home Care has offices throughout California.
