Home Care vs. Home Health in Hillsborough (Tampa) & Pasco Counties

What’s Covered, What’s Not, and How to Get the Right Help at Home

After a hospitalization, fall, surgery, or serious illness, families are often told, “You’ll have Home Health coming out.”
What many don’t realize until it’s too late is that Home Health and Home Care are not the same thing—and confusing the two can leave loved ones unsafe at home.

If you’re navigating care decisions in Hillsborough County (including Tampa) or Pasco County, this guide explains the difference, what insurance covers, and when private-duty Home Care is essential.

The #1 Misunderstanding Families Face After a Hospital Stay

Medicare and medical insurance do NOT cover day-to-day custodial care.

That means help with:

• Bathing
• Toileting
• Dressing
• Meals
• Transfers
• Supervision and fall prevention

is almost always an out-of-pocket expense.

Understanding this early helps families avoid gaps in care, rushed decisions, and unnecessary readmissions.

Home Health vs. Home Care: The Key Difference

Home Health = Skilled Medical Care

Home Care = Daily Living & Safety Support

Both are valuable—but they serve very different purposes.

What Is Home Health Care?

Home Health Care provides short-term, skilled medical services ordered by a physician and tied to a specific diagnosis. When criteria are met, these services are usually covered by Medicare or private insurance.

Home Health services may include:

• Registered Nurse (RN) or LPN visits
• Wound care and dressing changes
• Medication administration
• Catheter or ostomy care
• Home infusions
• Physical Therapy (PT)
• Occupational Therapy (OT)

Home Health typically begins after:

• A hospital discharge
• A rehab or skilled nursing stay
• A qualifying medical event such as a fall, stroke, or surgery

⚠️ Important: Home Health visits are brief and intermittent. Providers do not stay for hours, and care is not daily.

How Home Health Typically Works

• Hospital case management or your physician writes a Home Health order
• An RN contacts you within 48 hours of returning home
• PT and OT usually visit 2–3 times per week initially
• Services taper off as goals are met
• The agency bills insurance directly

While Home Health may authorize 1–2 bathing visits per week, this is not ongoing personal care.

What Is Home Care?

Home Care (also called non-medical or private-duty care) provides hands-on assistance and supervision to support daily life at home.

This is the care families usually need most—and the care insurance almost never pays for.

Home Care services generally include:

Companionship & Safety

• Fall prevention and supervision
• Cueing and encouragement with PT exercises
• Transportation to appointments and errands

Homemaking

• Meal preparation and cleanup
• Laundry
• Light housekeeping in client areas

Personal Care (ADLs)

• Getting in and out of bed
• Steadying while walking
• Toileting assistance
• Showering or sponge bathing
• Dressing and grooming

Care is provided by CNAs or Home Health Aides and can range from a few hours a day to 24/7 support.

When Families Need BOTH Home Health and Home Care

This is common in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties, especially after:

• A stroke or heart attack
• A serious fall or fracture
• Surgery with mobility restrictions
• Extended hospitalizations

Home Health treats the medical condition.
Home Care supports the person day-to-day.

Without Home Care, families often struggle with:

• Unsafe transfers
• Missed meals
• Poor hygiene
• Falls
• Caregiver burnout

Cost of Home Care in Hillsborough & Pasco Counties

Due to caregiver shortages and rising labor costs:

• Typical minimum shifts: 6 hours
• Employee-based agencies: $33–$36/hour
• Nurse Registry models: $30–$32/hour
• Credit cards may add 2–3% processing fees

Last-minute or short-shift care can be difficult to staff—planning ahead makes a big difference.

How We Help Families Navigate Home Care Options

As a trusted Home Care provider in Tampa, Hillsborough County, and Pasco County, we help families:

• Understand what Medicare does—and does not—cover
• Determine when Home Care is necessary
• Coordinate care alongside Home Health services
• Create realistic, safe care plans
• Avoid rushed decisions after discharge

Our goal is to help your loved one remain safe at home while reducing stress on family caregivers.

Need Home Care in Tampa, Hillsborough, or Pasco County?

If you’re preparing for a hospital discharge—or already home and struggling—you don’t have to figure this out alone.

📞 Contact us today for a confidential consultation about Home Care options in Hillsborough (Tampa) and Pasco Counties.
We’ll explain your choices clearly and help you put the right support in place.