.png&w=256&q=75){kind=small}
What Are Home and Community Care Services?
Date Updated: December 6, 2024
Written by:
In the past year, Theresa has authored nearly one hundred pieces of content on senior living and healthcare, with a particular emphasis on memory care. She is dedicated to rigorous research, consistently sourcing authoritative material to bolster the credibility of her work. Her prolific writing career includes 29 children’s and teen books, 7 romance novels, and numerous short stories.
Reviewed by:
Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.
Home and community care services are delivered at home or in the community that meets medical needs and support the daily living of people with functional impairments. These services target older adults and people with disabilities, helping them stay in the community rather than move to a nursing home.
Understanding Home Care Services
Home care services, which include in-home care and home health care, refer to services that professionals provide at a senior's home to help them manage everyday life and maintain their independence for as long as possible. More specifically, in-home care caters to seniors who need help with daily activities such as household chores, cooking, shopping, pet care or nonmedical personal care. It involves hygiene care, as well as dressing and toileting assistance. Home care aides also provide companionship and cognitive stimulation.
Home health care caters to seniors with medical needs, bringing skilled nursing services, therapeutic care and rehabilitative care to the home. Care teams consist of certified nursing aides, registered nurses, speech therapists and physical and occupational therapists. Services include wound care and feeding tube maintenance. Home health care is generally a short-term service but can become a way of life for seniors with chronic health conditions.
Exploring Community Care Services
Community-based care, much like home care services, provides essential support in community settings. These services help seniors remain in their community and avoid the need for residential care facilities. Often more affordable than home care, the cost of community-based services can vary based on the specific needs and services required. Rather than choosing one type of care, many find that combining community care with home care services offers a more tailored and effective long-term care solution.
Community-based care services include the following:
- Adult day care centers
- Meal delivery programs
- Senior centers
- Congregate meal sites
- Transportation services
- Information and referral services
- Legal and financial services
- Home repairs and modification services
This list is not finite, and seniors looking for home and community care services near them should contact the Eldercare Locator.