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What Is Short-Term Home Care?
Date Updated: December 6, 2024
Written by:
With over a decade of dedicated experience, Andrea Miller boasts an extensive background in healthcare writing and editing. Her expertise spans various facets of the healthcare industry, with a particular focus on nursing, senior care, Alzheimer’s disease, and public health. Andrea has also contributed her editorial talents to reputable publishers in the Philadelphia region, complementing her extensive freelance work.
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.
Short-term home care provides a temporary solution for older adults requiring help at home. Some hire a short-term professional caregiver when family caregivers need rest, an arrangement known as respite care. Others utilize short-term home care during recovery from surgery, illness or injury. The caregiver assists with housekeeping, preparing meals and other activities of daily living.
How Do You Choose a Short-Term Home Care Provider?
Choose a short-term home care provider by reviewing the agency's credentials and ensuring they offer the appropriate services for your family member. Check that the agency has a license to provide care in your state and ask how long it's been operating in your area. Find out if the agency has current background checks for caregivers, and ask about its care philosophy to see if it aligns with your loved one's needs.
Does Medicare Cover Short-Term Home Care?
Medicare covers the cost of short-term home care for people who can't leave the house because of a medical condition. The program provides part-time or intermittent care, defined as less than eight hours a day of care less than seven days a week for no more than 21 days.
Available short-term home services through Medicare include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and social services. Medicare also covers help with activities of daily living for people who receive skilled nursing care.