Home Care Definitions

Behavioral Health can include the prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support to people with addiction and mental health needs. Behavioral health may also include care for patients with memory loss and confusion, but typically includes more intensive treatment and intervention than simple redirection.

Homecare agencies provide non-medical services. Personal care may include: dressing, feeding and personal hygiene to facilitate self-care; homemaking such as housekeeping, shopping, meal preparation, and transportation; or respite care to provided support to the family. The Department of Health licenses home care agencies.

Home Health Care includes skilled nursing services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language therapy and medical social services. A home health care agency may choose to be Medicare certified to be reimbursed for their services. Home health agencies may also teach you how to care for yourself.

In-Home Care/Personal Care is care related to activities of daily living. Care may be provided by Home Health or Homecare Agencies. These services are typically not covered by medical insurance or Medicare and do not require a physician’s order.

Intravenous Therapy is any medical treatments/medications that need to be introduced to the body via a patient’s veins. Numerous IV Therapies can be provided in-home under supervision of an MD. Some of these include: inter-infective/antibiotic therapies, hydration therapy, pain management, chemotherapy and central line care and maintenance.

Master of Social Work (MSW) is a master’s degree in the field of social work. MSWs help promote more integrated care with education and collaboration among care providers and support services.

Medicaid Certified A joint Federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid Certified facilities can offer services to individuals receiving Medicaid benefits in exchange for reimbursement from Medicaid. Some people qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid (these people are called “dual eligibles”).

Medical Social Services are assistance with social and emotional concerns related to an illness including counseling or help finding community resources.

Medicare Certified facilities can offer services to individuals receiving Medicare benefits in exchange for reimbursement from Medicare. A physician’s order is required to be reimbursed by Medicare. Medicare is a Federal health insurance program for those 65 and over for those who meet other criteria.

Nurse Delegated Tasks a licensed registered nurse may delegate specific nursing care tasks to qualified nursing assistants in community-based and in-home care settings. One task taught and delegated to one caregiver for one client. Before delegating a task, the registered nurse delegator must determine that specific criteria are met and ensure that the patient is in a stable and predictable condition.

Psychiatric Services refers to the agency's ability to offer services related to psychiatric support with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. Services may include counseling or administering of medications.

Respite Care is short-term or temporary. It is designed to give families a break from the stress of daily caregiving. Respite care can be for a few hours, overnight, or for days. The amount of care changes with the needs of the family and the ill or disabled person.

Skilled Nursing requires the oversight of a staff nurse and may include: rehabilitation, wound care, therapy services, or other medical care. These services are typically provided by a licensed Home Health Agency. This is different than Nurse Delegation services that may use a third party agency or consultant to delegate as needed for an individual specific need.

Therapy Services (OT, PT, RT, ST) Occupational Therapy (OT) refers to services to assess and treat patients to help them develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Occupational therapists help clients not only to improve their basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function. Physical Therapy (PT) refers to services for the treatment and rehabilitation process where a physical therapist will often stretch, strengthen, facilitate muscles, challenge balance, test coordination abilities, teach home exercise programs to enhance basic mobility skills; to help lessen disability and pain and improve overall function and quality of life. Respiratory Therapy (RT) refers to services for care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system. It may include the therapeutic use of medical gases and their equipment, humidification, aerosols, ventilator support, bronchi pulmonary drainage and exercise and respiratory rehabilitation. Speech Therapy (ST) refers to services to assess and treat speech and swallowing disorders. Speech therapy can treat speech, language, cognitive skills or swallowing.

Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse (WOCN)WOC nurses have advanced training in acute and chronic wound care as well as the physical, emotional, and social issues of patients with ostomies (those who have had some kind of bowel or bladder diversion), stomas, acute and chronic wounds, and incontinence (those with bladder and bowel control and associated skin care issues).

Sources: Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Aging and National Institutes of Health.