Home health care
Home health care is medical care delivered at home. It is provided by licensed professionals such as nurses and physical, occupational, or speech therapists, often with aides working under a plan of care.
- Typical reasons: recovery after a hospital stay or surgery, a new diagnosis, wound care, or therapy to regain strength.
- How it starts: usually ordered by a doctor.
- What it looks like: visits of an hour or so, a few times a week, for a period of time.
- Paying for it: insurance may cover it when certain conditions are met. Ask the doctor or the agency what applies.
Companion care (non-medical home care)
Companion care is help with daily life: company and conversation, meals, light tidying, laundry, keeping up with routines and appointments, and often help getting ready for the day.
- Typical reasons: a parent who is mostly independent but lonely, or finding daily tasks tiring.
- How it starts: the family arranges it directly with a provider. No doctor's order is needed.
- What it looks like: anything from a few hours a week to full time, or a live-in companion. CrossleyCare offers full-time arrangements only.
- Paying for it: usually private pay. Some long-term care insurance policies help; check your policy.
Side by side
| Companion care | Home health care | |
|---|---|---|
| Kind of help | Non-medical: company and daily life | Medical: nursing and therapy |
| Who provides it | Caregivers and companions | Licensed clinicians and aides |
| How it starts | Family arranges it | Usually a doctor's order |
| How long | Often months or years | Often weeks |
| Visit length | Hours a day, or live-in | Short visits |
| Usually paid by | The family, sometimes with long-term care insurance | Often insurance, when criteria are met |
What about bathing and dressing?
Help with bathing, dressing, and grooming is often called personal care. Many non-medical providers offer it as part of daily help. What each provider will and won't do varies, so ask for a clear list in writing.
Which does your parent need?
- Just home from the hospital, with wounds, new medications, or therapy: home health, arranged with the hospital or doctor.
- Mostly independent, lonely, and tired by daily tasks: companion care.
- Both: it happens often. A nurse may visit for a few weeks while a companion continues the daily routine.
Where CrossleyCare fits
CrossleyCare provides long-term companion care only: a live-in companion or weekday care, with one caregiver for years. We do not provide medical care. If your parent needs it, we will say so and point you toward their doctor.
Where CrossleyCare fits
CrossleyCare is family-owned, non-medical in-home care in metro Atlanta. We place one steady caregiver with one family for the long term: a live-in companion with a set 8-hour day, or weekday care, 40 hours Monday to Friday. If that sounds close to what your family needs, the fit check takes about three minutes and gives you an honest answer.
This guide is general information to help families think things through. It is not medical, legal, or financial advice. For decisions about health or safety, talk with your parent's doctor.