Definition (Source: Wikipedia)
***Home Care, AKA. domiciliary care, is health care provided in the patient's home by healthcare professionals (often referred to as home health care or formal care; in the United States, it is known as skilled care) or by family and friends (also known as caregivers, primary caregiver, or voluntary caregivers who give informal care). Often, the term home care is used to distinguish non-medical care or custodial care, which is care that is provided by persons who are not nurses, doctors, or other licensed medical personnel, whereas the term home health care, refers to care that is provided by licensed personnel. "Home care" and "home health care" are phrases that are used interchangeably in the United States to mean any type of care given to a person in their own home. Both phrases are used interchangeably regardless of whether the person requires skilled care or not. In the [United Kingdom], "Homecare" and "domiciliary care" are the preferred expressions.
Home care aims to make it possible for people to remain at home rather than use residential, long-term, or institutional-based nursing care. Care workers visit in the person's own home to help with daily tasks such as Meal Preparation, Medication reminders, Laundry, Light Housekeeping, Errands, Shopping, Transportation, and Companionship.
[edit] In the United States
While there are differences in terms used in describing aspects of Home Care or Home Health Care in the United States and other areas of the world, for the most part the descriptions are very similar.
Estimates for the U.S. indicate that most home care is informal with families and friends providing a substantial amount of care. For formal care, the health care professionals most often involved are nurses followed by physical therapists and home care aides. Other health care providers include respiratory and occupational therapists, medical social workers and mental health workers. Home health care is generally paid for by health insurance, public payers (Medicare, Medicaid), or paid with the patient's own resources.