These terms get used interchangeably all the time — but they describe two different kinds of support, and knowing which one your family needs makes the search much easier.
Home health refers to medical services delivered at home by licensed clinicians — nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists — typically ordered by a doctor for a specific condition or after a hospital stay. It's usually short-term, tied to a treatment plan, and may be covered by Medicare or insurance when criteria are met.
Home care — what Willow Home Care provides — is non-medical support with the activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, meal preparation, companionship, medication reminders, transportation, and light housekeeping. It's typically ongoing rather than short-term, isn't usually covered by Medicare, and is scheduled around a client's daily routine rather than a specific medical treatment.
These two types of care often work side by side. A client recovering from surgery might have a home health nurse visiting a few times a week for wound care, while a Willow Home Care caregiver provides daily support the rest of the time — meals, mobility help, and companionship. We regularly coordinate around home health and therapy schedules already in place.
Yes, this is common — we frequently coordinate our care schedule around home health nursing or therapy visits.
If your loved one has an active medical need requiring a nurse or therapist, that's home health. If they need ongoing daily support with routine tasks, that's home care. Many families need both at different points.
No — we provide non-medical home care. For skilled nursing or therapy, a home health agency is the right resource, and we're glad to help coordinate around it.