Skilled medical care, delivered at home.
Whether you or a loved one is recovering from surgery, managing a new diagnosis, or transitioning home after a hospital stay, home health care brings skilled medical professionals to your door. This page will help you understand what home health is, who qualifies, and what to look for in a provider.
What is home health care?
Home health care is skilled medical care provided in the home by licensed professionals - registered nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and medical social workers. It is ordered by a physician and is typically covered by Medicare or Medicaid when eligibility requirements are met.
Home health is different from in-home care, which focuses on non-medical support like bathing, dressing, and companionship. It is also different from hospice, which is end-of-life comfort care. Home health is about recovery, rehabilitation, and managing a medical condition safely at home.
In-Home Care
Non-medical personal support - bathing, dressing, meals, companionship. Ongoing and typically private pay.
Home Health
Skilled medical care at home - nursing, therapy, wound care. Time-limited and typically Medicare-covered.
Hospice
End-of-life comfort care focused on quality of life. For those no longer pursuing curative treatment.
What home health care typically includes
Skilled Nursing
Registered nurses who visit at home to monitor health, manage medications, provide wound care, and coordinate with your physician.
Physical Therapy
Help regaining strength, balance, and mobility after surgery, a fall, or a hospitalization.
Occupational Therapy
Relearning everyday tasks like dressing, bathing, and cooking safely and independently.
Speech Therapy
Support for communication, memory, and swallowing difficulties related to stroke, injury, or illness.
Wound Care
Skilled nursing visits to manage surgical wounds, pressure injuries, or other complex wound care needs.
Medical Social Work
Help navigating resources, care transitions, and the emotional challenges that come with a serious illness or recovery.
Who qualifies for home health under Medicare?
Medicare covers home health when all of the following conditions are met. A home health agency can help you determine eligibility during an initial assessment.
- ✓Your doctor has ordered home health services
- ✓You are considered homebound - leaving home requires considerable effort
- ✓You need skilled care such as nursing, physical therapy, or speech therapy
- ✓The home health agency is Medicare-certified
If you do not qualify for Medicare coverage, many home health services are also available on a private-pay basis.
Home health and in-home care work well together
Home health and in-home care are often confused, but they serve different needs - and many families benefit from having both at the same time. Home health handles the skilled medical side of recovery. In-home care handles the daily personal support that keeps your loved one comfortable and your family from burning out.
Home Health
- ✓Skilled medical care - nursing, therapy, wound care
- ✓Ordered by a physician
- ✓Typically covered by Medicare or Medicaid
- ✓Time-limited - ends when goals are met
- ✓Intermittent visits, not continuous presence
In-Home Care
- ✓Non-medical personal support and companionship
- ✓No physician order required
- ✓Typically private pay
- ✓Ongoing for as long as needed
- ✓Can be with your loved one around the clock
Questions to ask a home health agency
Not all home health agencies are equal. These questions will help you find a provider you can trust.
- 1Is your agency Medicare-certified?
- 2Which skilled services do you provide - nursing, PT, OT, speech therapy?
- 3How quickly can services begin after a hospital discharge?
- 4How do you coordinate with my physician and care team?
- 5What happens if I need care on nights or weekends?
- 6How are care transitions handled when home health ends?
- 7What options exist if I need ongoing support after home health concludes?
We are vetting home health partners in Utah
Utah Aging Guide only partners with providers that meet a high standard of care. We are currently evaluating home health agencies in Utah and will list trusted partners when we are confident in our recommendation. If you have a question in the meantime, reach out to us at contact@utahagingguide.com.