What Are the Primary Home Care Services?

Primary home care services are companion care, personal care assistance and home health care. Each of these in-home care options offers a different scope of support. By selecting the right level of support for your loved one, you can ensure they age in place safely and comfortably while maintaining a high quality of life.

Home care offers an alternative to residential care settings, such as assisted living facilities. It is ideal for individuals who want to age in place in the comfort of their own homes but are unable to do so safely because of age, illness or disability. A study AARP conducted in 2021 reports that more than three-quarters of adults aged 50 and older hope to age in their current homes or communities.

Typically, home care includes assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and household chores. Depending on an individual's condition and care needs, more extensive medical support is available through home health care. Consulting with your loved one's health care provider offers guidance in determining which level of at-home care is best for their needs.

There are various types of home care services to accommodate seniors of different levels of need. When seeking care for a loved one, the most important consideration is their safety. By understanding the services included in the different types of home care, you can better decide which option will provide your loved one with the support they need and allow them to maintain their independence and quality of life. Three categories typically group primary home care services:

• Companion Care Services: Also known as elder companions, these services help reduce isolation by offering companionship to seniors living alone at home. Providers assist with light housekeeping, errands and social activities.
• Personal Care Assistance: In addition to the services companion care provides, personal care assistance involves hands-on support with tasks of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting. Similarly, these services are non medical.

Home Health Care: This type of home care involves medical support. Usually prescribed by a physician, home health care requires the expertise of skilled nursing professionals or licensed therapists who can assist with specialized tasks such as medication administration, diabetes management, catheter care and physical therapy.

Cost often proves a factor when making decisions about long-term care. As some types of home care involve a greater level of support and medical specialization, they see higher costs. According to Genworth's 2024 Cost of Care Survey, the median monthly expense of in-home care is $5,720. Home health care, involving light medical support, comes in at a higher cost of $6,292.