If you are an elderly individual who has experienced one or more chronic health conditions, then it may be time to start looking at your options in relation to home care. However, you may not be sure about the types of services that you need or want. After all, there are many different types of home care available to you. Keep reading to learn about a few of them.

Personal Home Care

A home care service that offers personal need care is one that can help you with activities of daily living. These activities include meal preparation, dressing, bathing, ambulation, and light housekeeping. General companionship in the home and socialization are included in these care services, and professionals can also provide supervision over individuals who have cognitive problems like dementia or Alzheimer's disease. 

Personal home care professionals do not assist with medical care. However, they can help to ensure that medication is taken on time and that certain health needs, like the use of assistive devices, are attended to. 

The service is ideal if you are having difficulties with certain tasks but continue to remain independent. And you will be asked to fill out paperwork before the services begin so the home care service can come up with a schedule and a services plan based on your needs. The home care professional can typically be scheduled for daily visits or for biweekly care.

Home Health Services

Home health services are quite different from personal care ones in that specific medical services are provided during each appointment. Typically, the services are scheduled for a specific time and day, and a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or home health nurse will come directly to your home. The services are ideal if you need wound care or help with a specific type of medical device like a catheter. They can also help to encourage mobility if you have sustained an injury.

These health services are often arranged through physicians, and your insurance company will typically pay for the service. They may be short-term in nature or long-term, and medical evaluations will be carried out on a regular basis to make sure that you are still eligible for the services.

While home health agencies do provide direct and professional medical care, they rarely provide 24-hour healthcare services. This is something that a private nurse will do, and this may not be covered by your insurance company.