At its most basic level, home health care is exactly what the name suggests: “It’s care for someone within their home,” says Joe Pecora Jr., vice president of Home Healthcare Workers of America, a national union representing home healthcare workers.

The type of care varies. Depending on a person’s needs, home health care can consist of medical care like wound care and/or non-medical care like help with bathing or meal preparation.

Different Types of Home Health Care

There are two primary types of home health care:

Medical Care
This type of home health care—often called skilled care—is provided by a medical professional, such as a physician, registered nurse or physical therapist. Services they could provide include wound care and physical, occupational and speech therapy, says Yount. Other potential services include patient and caregiver education, injections and nutrition therapy. Medical home health care is prescribed by a doctor.

Non-Medical Care
Non-medical care includes “assistance with activities of daily living—so, things like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, transportation to and from physician appointments, running errands, shopping and housekeeping,” says Yount. It’s provided by home health or home care aides. -Forbes