The Difference Between Non-Medical Home Care and Home Health Care
Non-medical home care refers to support at home that does not involve medical skills; services include light housekeeping, running errands, or offering pleasant companionship. On the other hand, home healthcare is offered by a medically trained professional, like a nurse or similar healthcare provider; services include providing injections, dressing wounds, or giving IV infusions—all performed in the comfort of the client’s home.
Non-Medical Home Care Services
There are a number of ways to get nonmedical supportive services inside a home. But regardless of what level of service you are looking for, odds are you will find yourself facing one choice: Should you find and hire an independent contractor or someone who works for an agency? Here’s a closer look at both options.
Nonagency Service
Nonagency workers, or independent contractors, are hired by either a family member or the person needing help. While this may appear less expensive, it could involve some hidden costs and risks:
• Whoever hires an independent contractor must pay all appropriate payroll taxes because, technically, that person is the employer.
• If the independent contractor is injured on the job, the person who hires the individual is responsible for medical bills and any other expenses.
• If the independent contractor is sick or goes on vacation, he or she is not obligated to find a replacement.
• Because people often hire an independent contractor without first conducting the proper background checks, they may be leaving themselves or their loved ones open to theft, fraud and-in rare cases-even abuse.
Agency Service
Companies such as Attentive Care Service Agency employ individuals to provide specific services that help with activities of daily living such as preparing meals, light housework, bathing, and companionship.
We alleviate consumers of many of the problems they may face if they hire an independent contractor because our home health care agency is responsible for taxes, insurance, bonding, and workers’ compensation. Also, if an employee is sick or goes on vacation, the Attentive Care Service Agency provides another employee to perform the needed services.
Our home care agency provides training for our employees and ongoing supervision as well. This helps the agency monitor and respond to the changing needs of clients, ensuring that the appropriate level/skill of caregiver is assigned. We also conduct background checks according to Pennsylvania state law.
In addition, Attentive Care Service Agency is licensed to provide a higher level of home care (skilled nursing, for example) for individuals. That means that as a person’s needs change, he does not need to work with more than one company. Working with one company can make it easier to access formal payer sources such as Medicare or Medicaid.
For more information about our In-Home Care Services or Skilled Nursing Services, call us at 215-477-2100 or click here to contact us.
