Guides
Guides for families
Plain-language answers about home care, Medicare home health, assisted living and paying for care, cited to primary sources.
Does Medicare cover home health care?Yes, if you qualify. Medicare Part A and Part B cover part-time or intermittent skilled home health care for homebound people, and you pay nothing for covered services.Read the guide →What does "homebound" mean for Medicare home health?Medicare's two-part homebound test: you need help or a device to leave home (or leaving is not advised), and you normally can't leave home and leaving takes a considerable and taxing effort.Read the guide →Home health vs. home care: what's the difference?Home health is skilled medical care (nursing, therapy) ordered by a doctor and often covered by Medicare. Home care is non-medical help with daily living, which Medicare doesn't pay for when it's the only care you need.Read the guide →How to choose a home health agencyStart with agencies that serve your area, compare CMS star ratings and quality measures on Care Compare, confirm they offer the services in your care plan, and ask direct questions before you decide.Read the guide →How to pay for home careMedicare doesn't pay for ongoing non-medical home care. Most families pay privately, and long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance and Medicaid waivers can help people who qualify.Read the guide →Home care vs. assisted livingHome care brings a caregiver to your parent's home by the hour; assisted living is a licensed community with 24-hour staff. Compare who each fits and what each costs in your state.Read the guide →
Quick facts: Cited guides on home care, Medicare home health, assisted living and how to pay for care.