Understanding Home Health vs. Private Duty
Choosing at-home care can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to understand the different options available. Home health and private duty are both common options that bring support right to your home, but they address different needs and offer distinct services. Understanding the differences will help you choose the best fit for your unique situation.
About Home Health Care
Home health care brings professional medical services right to your home. It’s typically prescribed by a physician and often involves skilled medical care provided by licensed professionals. The primary goal of home health is to help individuals recover from an illness, injury, or surgery, manage chronic conditions, and regain independence in their daily living activities related to their medical condition. Learn about Home Health from FV at Home.
About Private Duty Home Care
Private duty home care offers a broader range of personalized support services that focus on assisting with the activities of daily living and enhancing overall quality of life. Unlike home health, it’s not necessarily tied to a specific medical condition or a physician’s order for skilled care. The goal is often to provide ongoing support to help individuals remain safe, comfortable, and independent at home for as long as possible. Learn about Private Duty from FV at Home.
Key Characteristics and Differences of Private Duty Home Care vs. Home Health
| Private Duty | Home Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Private duty care primarily focuses on assistance with personal care, companionship, and household tasks. Services are tailored to the individual’s specific needs and preferences. | Home health care offers professional medical services at home, focused on recovery, managing chronic conditions, and regaining independence related to medical needs. |
| Services | Bathing assistance, mental cueing, medication reminders, safety supervision and more. See the full list of services offered by Private Duty from Friendship Village. | Physical therapy, skilled nursing, speech therapy, occupational therapy, dietary advice, and more. See the full list of services offered by Home Health from Friendship Village. |
| Team | Certified nursing assistants, home health aides, and companions deliver private duty care. | Registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists deliver home health care. |
| Schedule | Ongoing long-term support – from a few hours a week up to 24/7 care, depending on the individual’s requirements. | Short-term service for defined treatment periods; not typically continuous or long-term. |
Considerations to Make the Right Choice
Choosing the right option between home health and private duty care depends on individual needs and circumstances. Consider the following questions to get a better sense of the best option:
- What is the primary need? If you’re recovering from a medical event and require skilled nursing or therapy, home health is typically the ideal choice. Whereas, if you need ongoing assistance with daily living activities or would like companionship, private duty is the best option.
- What level of care is required? Home health focuses on medical care, while private duty addresses non-medical personal care and support.
- What is the expected duration of care? Home health is often short-term and intermittent, while private duty can be ongoing and long-term.
By carefully assessing your situation and considering the key differences outlined above, you can choose the option that best supports your health, independence, and overall well-being at home. If you want guidance on which would be best suited to your goals, we are happy to set up a consultation. Contact us!