Understanding Home Care:
A comparison of providers that perform similar services.

Every day in Pinellas County, guardians, care managers and family members are asked to make long term health care decisions for their clients and loved ones. As many of us know, home health care can be an appropriate solution for a client who wishes to age in place. In the past few years, “home care” has become a catch phrase to include everything from dog walking and house cleaning to high tech nursing. These services are generally provided by Registered Homemaker / Companion Services, Licensed Home Health Care Agencies and Nurse Registries. It is important to understand the differences in home care providers in order to make safe, informed decisions for our clients.

Homemaker / Companion Agencies are registered with The Agency for Health Care Administration. They are not licensed to provide any type of medical or personal care. Because services are not medical, there is no requirement for supervision by a skilled nurse. There is also no requirement that caregivers be Certified Nursing Assistants or Home Health Aides. Companion agencies are often lower priced than Home Health Agencies and can be an excellent solution when a client is in need of assistance with meal preparation, shopping, light housekeeping and companionship.

Home Health Care Agencies are licensed by The Agency for Health Care Administration following a comprehensive survey. Patient care is assessed and supervised by a Registered Nurse. In addition to the services provided by a Companion Service, a Home Health Agency can assist with personal care and offer skilled nursing services including medication management. Certified Nursing Assistants or Home Health Aides provide all personal care. Home Health Agencies are required to have a nurse available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. A Home Health Agency is a good choice when nursing involvement is desired or when a client is in need of assistance with activities of daily living including bathing, dressing, toileting, eating and physical transfer.

Nurse Registries are licensed by The Agency for Health Care Administration. In years past, they mostly provided staffing services to facilities. They are now allowed to perform many of the same services as a Home Health Agency as long as a client is under the care of a physician. All care provided in a private home is assessed and supervised by a skilled nurse. The biggest difference between a registry and an agency is that, unlike an agency, caregivers are not employees of a registry. They work as independent contractors and are responsible for obtaining their own liability and workers compensation insurance. They must also comply with tax laws pertinent to independent contractors.

This offers a very general summary of the difference in home care providers and how those differences might be important in planning for a client’s long term care. More specifics regarding home care can be obtained by contacting The Agency for Health Care Administration (727-552-1133 or 850-414-6010) or Associated Home Health Industries of Florida (850-222-8967).

Suzanne Johnson
Bayshore Health & Homemaker Services, Inc.