Private Duty Care versus Medicare Home Health Care Services

private duty versus medicare home health

Private duty care is different from home health care. They vary in the level of care. Also the private duty care provides the long term-care while home health care provides the short term care.

Understanding the Difference between Medicare Home Health Services and Private Duty Care

Private duty care is different from home health care. They vary in the level of care. Also private care provides the long term-care while home health care provides the short term care. There are two types of private care, “hands on” care and “hands off” care. Hands on care refers to assistance with bathing, dressing, transferring, feeding and continence care. Hands off care refers to cooking, housekeeping, driving and transportation assistance.

Private Duty Care

Private duty care is also known as custodial care which offers variety and broad range of long-term services. Most of the services is to assist seniors with their daily living. Services are non-invasive medical and nursing care. Its goal is to provide the needed support of the aging seniors so they can remain independent in their own home as much as they can.

Medicare Home Health Services

Whereas, the home health care or supportive health care is more on medical type of services. It aims to assist and help patients from recovering to the existing illness after hospitalization or facility stay. The services is provided by registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, home health aides and medical social workers. This short-term care includes rehabilitation, therapies, and assistance on home health care.

Accountable Home Care is a licensed Florida Nurse Registry where we are licensed to refer licensed caregivers to client’s in need of care at home. We offer private non skilled home care services to assist South Florida residents to age in place in the comfort of their own home or senior living community.

When using a Long Term Care Policy as payment for hourly care at home, what services are considered long-term care services?

Long Term Care Benefit

Often times families and clients requests the use of their long term care policy as an acceptable payor source when retaining our services for hourly care at home. At Accountable Home Care, we are proud to accept the benefits and work directly with insurance if it is easier for the client and the family.

When using a long term care policy, care services tend to relate to the following covered care services:

*It is very important to verify directly with the long term insurance provider and utilize your original long term care policy for further clarification and guidelines.

Attending an Adult Day Care Center offering respite services. This allows for a family to seek a comfortable and safe environment outside the patient's home. Adult day care is a great option for senior citizens who may benefit from socialization. Typically the primary caregiver is an adult child that works and the aging parent no longer can be left home alone while the adult child works.
Home Health Care - Skilled Registered Nursing Visits and/or home physical therapy services. Hospice at home is another form of home health care but can also be at an actual inpatient center.
Assisted Living Facility resident or a resident of a Long Term Care Nursing Home.

What do I do if I am a resident of Palm Beach County and would like to register with a Special Needs Program?

Your patient care coordinator at Accountable Home Care can assist you or a family member with applying for the free service through Palm Beach County. Please call the office to get more information at 561-320-0055 or click here for the application.