Home Health Care Services Fact Sheet

Home healthcare, simply put, is healthcare delivered in an individual's home.

What is Home Health Care?

Home healthcare, simply put, is healthcare delivered in an individual's home. Home healthcare services can range from at-home nursing care or rehabilitation following a hospital stay, to ongoing assistance with daily living activities such as shopping, meal preparation, light housekeeping, dressing or bathing.

How do I pay for Home Health Care?

If you have health insurance (either private, employer-provided or Medicare) and recently suffered an illness, your physician can order limited home health care services. However, these services are only for a short period of time and are usually tied to a new diagnosis. If you require ongoing “custodial” care, then your insurance will probably not pay for the services, unless it is a long-term care insurance policy. Most home health care is paid for by the individual on a private basis. Many providers require you pay for a “minimum” of either four hours per day, or twelve hours per week. The average cost of home health care in South Florida ranges between $24 - $28 per hour (2024.)

Types of Services and Who Can Provide Them

Home health care services can be simple household tasks performed by a caring individual or very technical services rendered by trained professionals. Companion services are provided by an individual with little or no training. Services they can provide are limited to those that do not require “hands-on” care. A home health aide is allowed to help with personal services that require the aide to touch the client. In other words, if you need help with meal preparation and transportation, a companion may be appropriate. If you need help with dressing, bathing or eating your food, then a home health aide is needed.

In Florida, if the individual requires someone to prepare and give them medications, then it must be done by a licensed nurse (either LPN or RN.) Of course any skilled services must be rendered by the appropriate professional. Skilled services include infusion therapy or wound care (nurse) and any specialized therapy such as physical, occupational or respiratory (specialized therapist.)