According to information from the last census, something over 75% of all seniors stay in their own homes, or in the homes of family members, until the end of their lives. One of the things that makes this possible for many is home health care services.

A person who has Medicare, and who has trouble getting out of the house for medical treatment, can receive treatment from a nurse, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist or a speech therapist at home. This allows the older person to stay at home while receiving necessary care. Without the availability of Medicare Home Health Care more seniors would sooner rather than later find themselves in the hospital.                   

Medical Home Health Care is primarily available to Medicare recipients through their Part A coverage (the Hospital part). Seniors who are members of a Medicare Advantage plan (HMO) will get their medical home care through the insurance plan they belong to.

Non-Medical Home Care fills the gaps left by the Medicare program. Much of the help an older person may eventually need is not medical. Help with bathing, dressing, using the toilet, eating, moving around and remembering to take medications are all activities that don't require the services of a licensed professional. These kinds of services are not covered by Medicare or any Medicare supplement policies.

Carers who get help from non-medical homecare services find that they can often provide care at home for a much longer period than if they tried to do everything themselves. Having someone else to help pick up the slack gives caregivers the chance to rest and to go out for essential errands and a break. An experienced helper can often get through a bath, a change of clothes and a meal faster and with less resistance than a family caregiver.

While medically necessary home health care is usually covered by Medicare, non-medical care must be privately paid unless the patient has either a long-term care insurance policy or qualifies for a government low-income assistance program.

Read more about hiring a non-medical home care agency-