Home Health
What home health care actually is
Home health is medical care in the home, ordered by a doctor and delivered by a licensed agency. A registered nurse might come twice a week to check a surgical wound and teach your mother how to manage new medications. A physical therapist might work on walking and stairs so your father can get to the bathroom safely again. A speech therapist might help after a stroke.
It is short-term and goal-driven. The agency writes a care plan with the doctor, measures progress at each visit and winds down services as your loved one meets their goals. That is the biggest difference between home health and hospice: home health is about recovery, hospice is about comfort.
It is also different from "home care," the non-medical help with bathing, cooking, errands and companionship that families usually pay for themselves. Many families use both: home health for the skilled visits, and private-duty caregivers for the hours in between.
What a home health agency can provide
Skilled nursing
Wound care, injections, IV and nutrition therapy, monitoring a serious illness, and teaching the patient and family.
Physical therapy
Rebuilding strength, balance and safe walking, and setting up the home to prevent another fall.
Occupational therapy
Practicing daily tasks like dressing, bathing and cooking, with tools that make them easier.
Speech therapy
Help with speech, memory and swallowing after a stroke or other illness.
Home health aide visits
Part-time help with personal care, but only alongside nursing or therapy from the agency.
Medical social services
A social worker who can connect the family with community resources and longer-term help.
Signs your loved one may need home health
- A hospital discharge planner has mentioned "home health" or "skilled services"
- New medications, a new wound or new equipment that no one has explained
- Unsteady walking, a recent fall, or fear of falling
- Trouble managing a chronic condition between doctor visits
- Getting to outpatient therapy would take a major effort or another person's help
How Utah Care Network helps with home health
We check the basics
We walk through the discharge plan, the doctor's order and their insurance so you know what to expect before the first visit.
We find agencies that serve the address
We look for Medicare-certified agencies that cover their ZIP code, have the right therapists and can start promptly.
We plan for what comes next
If your loved one needs more help than part-time visits, we can point you to private-duty care or the next level of living.
Questions to ask a home health agency
Bring these on a call or a tour. A good provider will be glad you asked.
- Are you Medicare-certified, and do you take our insurance plan?
- How soon after discharge can the first nurse or therapist visit?
- Which disciplines do you have on staff for our area, and how often will each visit?
- Who do we call after hours if something changes?
- How do you report progress to our doctor?
- What happens when the visits end, and how will we know we're ready?
Home Health: common questions
See all 26 home health questions and who to call
What does "homebound" mean for Medicare?
Medicare considers someone homebound if leaving home isn't recommended because of their condition, or they need help such as a cane, wheelchair or another person to leave, and leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort. People who are homebound can still go to medical appointments, religious services and adult day care.
Does Medicare pay for a caregiver at home all day?
No. Medicare home health covers part-time or intermittent skilled care. It does not cover 24-hour care, and it does not cover personal care like bathing or dressing if that is the only help needed. Families usually pay privately for that kind of help, or use Medicaid or long-term care insurance if they qualify.
How much does home health cost with Medicare?
If your loved one qualifies, they pay $0 for covered home health services. For durable medical equipment, they usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible.
Do we need a hospital stay first?
No. Medicare home health does not require a prior hospital stay. It requires a doctor's order, a need for skilled care, being homebound, and an in-person visit with a doctor or other qualified provider.
Can we choose the agency?
Yes. With Original Medicare you can choose any Medicare-certified agency that serves your area. Hospitals often hand out a list, but you are not required to use the first name on it.
Resource hub
Guides that help with this decision
Other kinds of care we help families find
Sources
This page is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Coverage rules change; confirm details with the program or your plan. Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
